Lauren Perwas

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

Jessica Perwas, a Mahwah native living in Bloomington, IN, died on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 36 years old, according to her obituary on the Vander Plaat Funeral Home website. Born in South Korea, Lauren "arrived into the loving embrace of her adoring parents" at 7 months old, her obituary said.

"She grew up surrounded by loving family and friends and thrived both as a student and even more so, as a kind and loving child," her obituary reads. Her family said “that kindness she had displayed as a child matured into compassionate, gentle, caring for the elderly loved ones in her life,” noting that “the respect and love that she showed them will forever be a part of her legacy,” according to the obituary.

Lauren was admired for her good judgment, and her MHS friends even formed a group called “WWLD,” meaning “what would Lauren do,” her obituary said. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in anthropology, biology, and neuroscience, later earning a master’s in accounting, and was working as an accounting supervisor for Cardinal Health at the time of her death, her obituary said.

She shared her botanical paintings on social media and her website, Eljae Studio, her obituary said. Lauren is survived by her parents, Charles and Valerie Perwas of Mahwah; her partner, Jordan Bable of Bloomington, IN; and extended family. Click here for Lauren's obituary, complete with service information.