Jessica Swan Ishikawa was born May 9, 1981 and delivered promptly to her mother, Virginia Read. Only 20 months later she would be joined by her little brother James Cargill. 

Living  her childhood in Irvine, CA, she attended elementary school at Deerfield and middle school at Venado. Jessica, or “Jess” as most knew her, then went to Irvine High School. Jessica was a prominent member of the school orchestra and this experience thrust her into her life long passion- music. Jessica played a slew of instruments (piano, guitar, ukulele, harmonica, and loved to sing) and played classical bass in the school orchestra. Music would take Jessica from Irvine to far away places during this time, from New York all the way to Australia- playing at such venues as Carnegie Hall, and the Sydney Opera House. She moved to LA and attended UCLA, graduating with a musicology degree.It was during college that Jess met her best friend Hilary, and over their near 20 year friendship, considered themselves sisters. Following college Jessica began working in non-profit which would become, much like music, the passion and devotion of her life. Jessica spent 10 years at the National MS Society and ended her career working 5 years at Shatterproof. Within these organizations Jessica held titles from Senior Director of Marketing and Information Systems to Interactive Designer to Senior Creative Manager.

In 2008 Jessica met her soulmate, Kenji, and thus began the most important years of her life. After 3 years, and on the eve of a vacation to Ireland, Kenji proposed late at night in their home- sending them off into a private week of vacation and celebration. In May 2012 they were married on a beautiful day in Temecula, CA before their closest friends and family. Their relationship also began what would become a life-long passion for cycling for Jess. The community built around this passion would carry both Jessica and Kenji throughout their life together.

In 2014 Jess began her own creative businesses Keen Jellybean with Kenji and Virginia James Paper Company, whose names was inspired by her mother and brother. These creative outlets would ultimately be the creative outlet Jessica had always looked for.

In 2015 Jess was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and in December 2019 she lost her battle.

So, those are the facts, but what do we really want you to know about Jess?

She was a fighter, she loved hard, she was dedicated to her craft, her passions, fitness, family and friends. Jess put herself through college entirely. She painted walls bold colors in every house she ever lived in. She made cards, jewelry, did calligraphy, took photos, decorated the homes of friends and family, and was dedicated to sending hand written cards. She was passionate about data, technology, loved animals and her tribe. She was a warrior. She loved to do yoga, meditation and board games. Jess loved to garden and redecorate her spaces. Her ultimate passion? Organizing, or “refining” as she called it. She was a master designer and cataloguer of everything from events to quotes, to household items. Jess was magic. She loved collage, mixed tapes, creating playlists, and always envisioning the next trip or adventure. Meticulous at creating lists and checking boxes- she made the world around her a comfortable place to live. She had the biggest smile. She loved animals, especially her boxers Buffy and Peanut. She loved life. And our girl fought. She fought for every minute of her life after her cancer diagnosis. She took nothing for granted. She was fearless and optimistic.

We miss her desperately. We miss her laugh and the sound of her voice. We miss her singing and playing an instrument simultaneously as it filled the house with song and warmth. We miss her joyful attitude, her exuberance toward life and the fact she was always willing to meet any person wherever they were in life. We miss her love, her hugs, and the light she reflected into our world.