Jenny Marrs vulnerably opened up about a heartbreaking loss her family faced this year and fans shared loving words of support. In an emotional post, the HGTV star reflected on the passing of their dear friends and neighbors — and provided a powerful reminder about sadness and hope.
Jenny Marrs Writes About Grief Following Emotional ‘Fixer to Fabulous’ Episode
On December 24, Marrs took to Instagram to share some insight into the “Fixer to Fabulous” episode that aired the night before. In the episode, the family renovated a cabin for their dear neighbors, who later passed away.
“I have so much to say about last night’s episode and, over time, I’ll share more,” she wrote. “For now, I want to share that Bob passed right before Easter. And, that Sunday, I was slated to speak at church. I didn’t know if I could do it. Yet, I also knew it was a chance to talk about my friend and all that he had taught me. For instance, he taught me most everything I know about caring for sheep.”
Marrs continued, “And, so, on Easter Sunday, with a shaky voice and tears streaming, I spoke about our Good Shepherd and how I learned firsthand what it takes to be a shepherd from Mr. Bob. I spoke of the Levitical requirements and how, in our humanity, offering up a Passover lamb had to be impossibly difficult. I couldn’t imagine willingly offering one of my four-legged babies to be placed on an alter as a guilt offering for my wrong-doings. I read Lamentations 3:21, ‘Yet I still dare to hope … ‘”
“And I shared: We can be sad but we still have Hope,” the HGTV star noted. “That’s the Easter story. That’s why we celebrate.”
Marrs reflected on watching the episode with her family and her frustration about the timing of its release.
“And, as I watched the episode last night, holding the hands of my tearful kiddos and offering hugs and tissues, all of the sadness came back,” she explained. “I was so frustrated that this episode aired THIS week. Just before Christmas. We are sad enough, after all.”
The “Fixer to Fabulous” star shared that she read her journal with the Easter sermon and the words “We can be sad but we still have Hope.”
She noted, “That’s the CHRISTMAS story. That’s why we celebrate.”
The renovation they did for their neighbors is now a special place for the Marrs family. “This cabin represents more than a cozy place to retreat together. It is in honor and in memory of our friends,” the HGTV star shared.
“Because, if you didn’t know, our beloved Jill joined Bob in Eternity four months after he passed. She never got to see the finished cabin. And, so, while we could always lament and become hard-hearted, we won’t,” she noted. “We will dare to hope in this place.”
Marrs concluded with a touching reminder. “Hold on to hope, friends. Embrace your loved ones, be present, seek adventure, laugh … even when you’re sad,” she wrote. “The hope remains. Hold on.”
Fans Share Words of Support
The comments section was flooded with touching messages of support from fans.
“Oh my goodness. We were so incredibly sad with you last night, learning that Bob had passed before the cabin was finished, but then to read here that Jill passed 4 months later … I can’t imagine how hard that has been for their family and yours,” one fan wrote.
Another fan noted, “Oh Jenny … this was a hard episode to watch since I remember you posting about losing Bob and then Jill. I am sure they are looking down with love and happiness that this cabin was a gift from them to you.”
“What a blessing for all of you to have had one another. I am so sorry for the heavy losses this past year,” one person commented. “Grateful for the Hope that is our anchoring this life. Rejoicing in knowing you will see both of them again for eternity!”
Another fan shared, “It was a beautiful episode. I cried right along your family. Have a blessed Christmas.”
