‘Exuberant,’ ‘kind,’ ‘loving’: Hundreds gather to remember Jayden Jensen
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POCATELLO — For nearly three hours on Saturday afternoon, Jayden “JayJay” Jensen’s friends and family members took turns speaking about a boy who, at just 16 years old, impacted so many lives.
Jayden was reported missing on Dec. 6. He slipped through the ice while duck hunting with friends when he went to retrieve a duck. His friends went into the water after him, but they weren’t able to find him.
The search for his body went on for about two weeks, with local and state agencies and volunteers from eastern Idaho — and beyond — tirelessly searching the Snake River and American Falls Reservoir.
The search was officially called off on Dec. 18. However, his family was determined to search until weather made it physically impossible to do so.
On Jan. 1, a group of volunteers using an underwater drone recovered Jayden’s body, not far from where he disappeared.
RELATED | Body of missing 16-year-old recovered from the Snake River
During a celebration of life held inside the ballroom at Idaho State University’s Student Union Building, the Jensens’ family friend and selected emcee, Mike Fuller, described the teen as gentle, kind and loving.
“He was always there for you, whether you needed him or not,” Fuller said.
Person after person — friends and family — stood at a podium, on a stage in front of some 300 people, and told their stories about Jayden. They told stories about his Ford Bronco, which he loved so much, and his naturally goofy nature. They shared stories of his caring and nurturing demeanor, random acts of kindness and willingness to do anything for anyone.
Jayden’s father, Shawn Jensen, was the last to speak, asking everyone in the massive ballroom to look around.
“Look at all these people. Jayden did this. He brought all these people together — with his heart and his love for everybody,” Shawn said.
Jayden’s mother, Erin Calderon, had a similar sentiment, thanking the many “mothers” her son had “collected” and the rest of the village that helped raise him.
“This is his village. These are the people who raised him, the people who had his back and loved him very much,” Erin said.
Perhaps the most tearful tribute came from Jayden’s aunt, Tara Elvira.
Elvira spoke about Jayden’s many passions and the passion he inspired in others. She thanked her late nephew, saying that being an aunt to such a great person helped shape the mother she has become.
She thanked everyone in attendance, saying anyone who knew Jayden needed somewhere to talk about him together.
She directed her closing thoughts to “her JayJay.”
“You were the most exuberant little human I’ve ever known,” Elvira said. “Trying to conceptualize the vastness of your leaving is heavier than words are capable of describing. I would have loved to tell you how much you meant to me, but because you were taken so young, the impact wasn’t fully recognized until your absence screamed into the abyss of heartache.”
