Rebecca Zinn

Rebecca Leigh Zinn, 37, passed away peacefully and unexpectedly June 29, 2012.  She was born August 5, 1974, the daughter of Richard and Diane Zinn.

A bold, loving, energetic child, she graduated from Lawrence High School in 1992.  She was active in many areas of school life, was a member of the National Honor Society, the Girls’ State Basketball Championship Team, and was named a Kansas Honors Scholar.

She graduated from Northwestern University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature.  At Northwestern, she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, and a volunteer for Teach for America.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence.

Rebecca lived in Denver for several years where she was employed by Quark Inc.  She returned to Lawrence because of medical issues and has been pursuing a career in creative writing, including her first novel.  Writing has been her passion since she was old enough to print; meaningful journals and papers witness her thoughts and feelings.  Her hobbies were playing the piano and knitting.

Survivors include her parents, an older sister Lauri O’Connor, her husband Brion, and their daughters Maddi and Brynne, South Hamilton, MA; an older brother Robert L. Zinn, his wife Kate, and their daughters Emma and Olivia, Bolton, MA; a younger sister Jennifer Woodhead, her husband Jamie and their children Tommy, Lauren, and Kristen, Pelham, NH; one uncle, two aunts, and many cousins.  She was predeceased by her loving uncle, Steven Zinn, next to whom she will be inurned.

Private family services are pending.

The family suggests memorials to Just Food, Inc. of Douglas County or to the Lawrence Arts Center for its creative writing programs and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.