Jessica Lynn Kostin, 26 years of age, of Manhattan and formerly West Hartford, passed away unexpectedly August 8, 2010. Born on February 23, 1984, Jessica attended the Bess & Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy, King Philip Middle School and Hall High School, graduating early in January, 2002. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont as an arts major in 2006. For the past two years, she worked, at dabney lee, a stationery design company in Brooklyn, initially as a graphic designer and then also as the office manager. Jessie was a most beloved and loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, aunt, niece and friend. She leaves behind her parents Michele and Dane, her brother Jeremy and his wife Laura with their children Gabriel and Evan, her sister Whitney Chernoff with her husband Keith, and her sister Elisabeth, with whom she lived and was extraordinarily close, her Nana Jean, Grandpa Ben, Uncle Stewart and Uncle Ross. She also leaves behind the entire Barbara and David Brown family with whom she had a very special relationship, as well as her best friends Brenna and Rachael with her husband Greg, with whom she shared a birthday. She was a bridesmaid for Rachael in Santorini, Greece. She leaves extensive family in England and was especially close with her cousin Chloe. Jessie’s sweet nature and kindness touched many lives. Jessie, a can-do person on whom the family relied, was always brimming with ways to make celebratory occasions special. She was the heart of the family, always willing to help out at a moment’s notice and put her whole heart into everything she did. She babysat often for her nephews whom she adored. Jessie was an avid photographer and traveler and loved playing soccer, cooking, and spending time with family, particularly at the holidays when she tried out her new recipes. She spent her junior year abroad in Florence traveling through Europe while also learning Italian and cooking. She traveled with her Nana Jean for a Bat Mitzvah trip to Norway and visited relatives in England to attend Simchas. She traveled to Hong Kong and Taiwan to spend time with her friend Rachael and drove cross country with her so Rachael could move into her new home in Portland, Oregon. She traveled with her sisters throughout Europe when they did their junior years abroad in France and Spain, studied Spanish in Spain, received her keeling license while sailing the Caribbean, and traveled with her family in Spain and France and again through many of the National Parks. Jessie visited Israel many times, two of which were archaeological digs with the Greenberg Center at the University of Hartford. Funeral services will be at Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary of Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Ave., West Hartford. Interment will follow in Beth El Temple Cemetery, Jackson Road, Avon. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jessica’s memory to the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, Zachs Campus, 333 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117. Shiva will be observed at the home of her parents. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to sign the guestbook for Jessica, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.