Candlelight Vigil Set For Toms River Fire Chief's Young Daughter

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Firefighters and other first responders have announced a candlelight vigil to honor the memory of Jessica Rose Genovese, the 11-year-old daughter of Toms River Fire Company 1 Fire Chief John Genovese, who died last weekend.

Jessica, who was a sixth-grade student at Toms River Intermediate School South in Beachwood, died of viral encephalitis, according to a GoFundme campaign set up by friends of her parents, John and Laura Genovese.

The candlelight vigil is set for Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at Toms River Intermediate South, organizers said.

According to the obituary published on the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home website, Jessica was a member of Girl Scout Troop 240 in Bayville and loved art. She especially loved music and played the clarinet and was a member of the Toms River Intermediate South marching band.

"Jessica was a beautiful, vivacious, and loving child," the obituary notes. "She was a joy to her family."

Jessica is survived by her parents, John and Laura; her twin siblings: Joseph and Julie; her paternal grandparents: Thomas and Diana Genovese; her maternal grandparents: Charles Clark and Lorraine Russell; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins, according to the obituary.

Funeral services begin tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main St., Toms River. Visitation is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight, with the funeral service tomorrow, Thursday morning. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church on Hooper Avenue, with burial immediately following at St. Joseph Cemetery, Cedar Grove Road in Toms River.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Jessica's name to Toms River Regional Schools Music Program, specifically for Washington Street School and Toms River Intermediate South, according to the obituary.

The candlelight vigil, next Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. will include full support from all the Toms River fire departments and from surrounding towns' emergency services, organizers said.

Those wishing to contribute to either of the GoFundme campaigns set up to assist the family can still do so.

One was set up by the Monsignor Donovan Class of 1990. That GoFundMe campaign is linked here.

A second page was created by Jim and Bel Racanelli, friends of the Genovese family, representing the fire company and the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Fire Department Local F-313.

Photos: Jessica Rose Genovese via GoFundme page; Candle by Shutterstock