PELLA, Iowa — On Monday a fatal crash on I-35 took the life of 45-year-old Jamie Alertsen, of Pleasantville. She was on her way to work at Independence Village in Pella.

The news hit her co-workers at Independence Village hard, as it did some of the residents who interacted with Alertsen.

“She brought everyone a smile, and laugh, she took care of the residents,” said Anastasia Meyer, who takes care of residents at Independence Village.

“She picked up for everybody, she was dedicated to our residents,” said Mackynzie French, an employee at Independence Village. “She got to know them personally.”

Residents of Independence Village also appreciated how Jamie helped them. 

“She loved my cat and she got on the floor in the hallway with my cat and played with her,” said Susan Josephson, a resident of Independence Village. “You know I love that because my cat loves people, so she’s just the kind who would do anything to help you feel good.”

Rosalie Curry is also a resident who tells a story about wanting a tattoo, and Jamie was all over that. She even had an appointment made.

“They found out that I was on blood thinner, and so they wouldn’t do it,” said Curry.

Also on hand Thursday at Independence Village were three of Jamie’s daughters, Natasha Sankey, Nicole Alertsen, and Natalie Alertsen. It was Natalie who was with her mom in the accident Monday. She has been released from the hospital.

“Everybody here is family,” said Sankey. “They always have been mom‘s home away from home and they really took her in and showed her nothing but love.”

Funeral services for Jamie Alertsen are set for Saturday at 1 p.m. in Pleasantville.