Jolene Weaver

Due to technical difficulties we will not be able to upload the funeral service for Jolene,

we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Jolene Vivian Weaver, 3 months and 8 days, of Wessington, passed away Friday, April 30, 2021 at Avera Hand County Hospital, Miller.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, May 6, 2021 at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller with Rev. Brian Jones officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

For those unable to attend, please visit the funeral home website for the livestream of Jolene’s funeral service.

Jolene was born January 22, 2021, the second of three triplets, after Hadley and before Presley, to Brady and Joni (Hammill) Weaver in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at Avera McKennan Hospital.  As Joni is an avid Dolly Parton fan, it was only fitting that she named her beautiful daughter, Jolene after Dolly’s number one hit.  The triplets all had their own special look that was different from each other, but also similar. Her mom described her as the bridge between the three.

Jolene made her voice known immediately as she came in the world screaming, at one pound and 15 ounces.  Brady would describe his new daughter as his pterodactyl, with her newly found voice, sounding just like one.  Jolene was not only noticed by sound, but also by her bigger than average feet. Her doctor even put her up to his chest and said “Woah, look at these!”

From day one, Jolene had great strength. She was expected to be hooked up to multiple devices and equipment in a separate room than her sisters.  After 24 hours, she showed the staff she had no need for that and returned to her sisters’ side.  She made sure you knew when she didn’t care for something such as her pacifier, giving mom and dad a bad look indicating she wasn’t impressed.  She stole the hearts of all the nurses she was around, and Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” was heard throughout the NICU regularly. 

Even though she was the smallest of the three, she never let her size determine what she could do.  Jolene was catching up to her sisters with feedings, weight, and progress, and on April 23^rd her parents were overjoyed when Jolene graduated from NICU and was able to go home to be with her family.  Although her time on Earth was short, it was full of life and full of love.  We will miss you forever, Jolene.

Jolene’s memory will be cherished always by her parents, Brady and Joni Weaver; big sister, Rose; her two sisters who completed the trio: Hadley and Presley; grandparents: Dean and Nettie Weaver, and Ron Hammill and Sharon Verdugt; great grandparents: Eli and Amanda Weaver, and Ruth and Dave Beachy; aunt and uncles: Tonya (Logan) Shirk and Laramie Urban; and a host of cousins, and extended family.

She was greeted in Heaven by her grandfather, Jake Schwartz; great grandparents: Zona and Leonard Verdugt and Vivian and Bruce Hammill; and uncle, Jeremy “JD” Gortmaker.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Jolene’s arrangements.