Mohegan Lake woman remembered as a ‘big kid’ with a ‘heart of gold’

Jennifer Proeschel died in alleged hit-and-run on Jan. 3

Posted Wednesday, January 15, 2025 8:59 pm

Miranda Ferrante

YORKTOWN, N.Y. —Jennifer Proeschel’s mother, Andrea, remembers her daughter’s spontaneous humor and kind heart; she said she looked out for others, always made people giggle, and had a deep love for her family.

“Jenny was a sensitive person, always sensitive to people’s needs. She always put people first and herself last. She was nonjudgmental,” Andrea said. “She just always listened to people and gave them the benefit of the doubt of being good.”

Jennifer, a 42-year-old Mohegan Lake resident and one of five siblings who grew up in Putnam Valley, died after being struck by a car in a hit-and-run incident while walking on East Main Street near Mohegan Avenue on the evening of Jan. 3.

Yorktown PD was called to the scene and provided aid with assistance from Yorktown Paramedics, the Mohegan Fire Department, and Mohegan Ambulance. But despite their efforts, Jenny passed away at the hospital that night.

After an initial investigation, police identified the alleged perpetrator as Jake Barak, a 24-year-old Cortlandt Manor resident. He was arrested in the early hours of Jan. 4 and faces a class D felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Traffic charges against Barak had been dropped as of press time. The investigation is ongoing.

“Sadly, Friday evening, members of the Yorktown Police Department were called to respond to the scene of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle in the vicinity of Route 6 [East Main St.] and Mohegan Avenue,” Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble said in a Facebook post. “The vehicle involved left the scene of the accident. Despite CPR administered by the first Yorktown police officer on scene, who was quickly assisted by Lake Mohegan Firefighters and an Empress Paramedic, the pedestrian struck would eventually succumb to her injuries.”

‘Creative and passionate’

Jennifer Proeschel’s death leaves behind a void in the lives of friends, family, and coworkers, who remember her for her commitment to her community, and family—and for her sense of humor.

Andrea Proeschel described her daughter as incredibly creative and passionate about animals. She studied graphic design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and was working at Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown. If Jenny felt an animal needed extra love or care, Andrea said she would spend her lunch hour or day off with them.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jennifer. She was a beloved part of our Guiding Eyes for the Blind community and family,” Guiding Eyes for the Blind said in a statement to Yorktown News. “To honor Jennifer, Guiding Eyes for the Blind is naming a German Shepherd puppy in memory of Jennifer.”

It’s Jenny’s caring demeanor and artistic eye that Andrea will always hold closest to her heart.

“She could take a picture of a carrot or a pencil and make it funny somehow,” Andrea said. “She made them into mugs or t-shirts and would gift them to people or relatives.”

To her youngest sister, Jenny was a “big kid,” and to her mother, comedic timing and her knack for impressions matched her “spunky” personality perfectly.

“She was funny with a sense of sarcasm to it,” Andrea said. “There would be a banter exchange with her friends in a playful way.”

Though Andrea said the family is scattered in different places, she could always count on Jenny to reach out and make sure everyone was OK. Whenever Andrea would visit Jenny’s apartment, she said her daughter would “go out of her way” to have her favorite things on hand and “make me feel comfortable.”

Andrea said that Jenny had a “strong bond” with her twin sister Karyn and made it a point to call her nieces and nephews regularly.

“She really cared about the family a lot,” Andrea said.

They were all together for the holidays, the first Christmas since the death of their dad in February of last year. “She was trying to overcome—the whole family was trying to overcome this grief,” Andrea said.

Jenny was “independent” and “had a heart of gold for other people,” Andrea said, adding she “was so proud” of her daughter.

This article first appeared in the Jan. 16, 2025 edition of Yorktown News