Jessica Grace Jaen-Guardia

As the sun was rising in the early morning of February 25, 2022, Jessica Grace Jaen-Guardia of Pasadena MD, a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter and aunt, passed away in Greenbelt, MD at the age of 30. Jessica was born July 9, 1991 in Laurel MD, daughter of Jay Guardia and Donna Downing (Marshall).

Jessica attended Bowie High School where she was found to be an extremely smart young woman. You know the type, where they walk in, sit down and ace a test without so much as cracking the spine on a textbook.  She was that smart. She graduated in 2007 and went onto work different jobs throughout her remaining years, almost always something to do with animals. Never staying at one job too long, but always returning to one of her favorites at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.

Early in her teen years Jessica found a passion for music where she fell in love with playing the guitar. She was an amazing self-taught guitarist and would in her earlier days serenade her family and half the neighborhood with a little Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven, Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train or whatever else her fingers or her heart felt.  While other teenagers were wishing for a new PlayStation or Xbox for Christmas, well seriously she was wishing for that too, Jessica was all about asking for a Les Paul guitar, and it turned into one of her most prized possessions, and man could she play. She had a guitar in her car, the garage, her bedroom and we are sure a few more were scattered wherever she laid her head at night.

Jessica is predeceased by her maternal grandfather Phillip Marshall and her paternal grandmother Carolyn Armstrong (Downing). She leaves behind her two sets of parents, Mark and Donna Downing (Marshall) of Pasadena MD, and her parents Jay Guardia and Noella Ortega of Rosedale MD; her maternal grandmother Thelma Marshall of Severn MD, her paternal grandmother Betty Jo Loscar and grandfather, Frank Loscar of Monterey TN, as well as her grandfather Ernest Jaen-Guardia and grandmother Ana Silva of Brazil. Her brothers Austin Maxwell Guardia of Rosedale MD, Christopher Downing of Bangor ME, and William Downing and his spouse Alexandra Wyszynski of Pasadena MD. Jessica also leaves behind her sweet nephew Vinny Downing of Pasadena MD, Matthew Rowland of Greenbelt MD who was a constant friend never too far from her side, several cats and her favorite of four dogs, Tucker Nugget.  There are several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who also mourn her loss.

Although Jessica will be dearly missed each and every day, we hope memories of her contagious laughter, determination, beautiful smile and fierce love for family and friends will bring comfort and peace to all that knew her.  She had a passion for animals, music, art and comedy. Her talents were endless and her life had really just begun and ended way too soon.

A gathering of friends and family will take place at the Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., 1411 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD 21113 on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 12:30 pm. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The City of Elderly Love.  Please see link below