Sara Canning (Jenna Sommers)

Jenna Sommers, portrayed by Sara Canning in seasons one and two, was Elena and Jeremy Gilbert’s aunt. She was the sister of their mother, Miranda Sommers Gilbert. After her sister and her sister’s husband were killed in a car crash, she took Elena and Jeremy in and became their legal guardian. In the beginning Jenna has trouble coping with her new role as an authority figure, for she used to be a partying college student, but as the series progresses she becomes better at it. She begins dating news reporter Logan Fell, who had cheated on her in the past. However, Logan is turned into a vampire by Anna and then killed by history teacher Alaric Saltzman and Jenna is told that he has left town, which hurts but doesn’t surprise her. She later begins a relationship with Alaric.

In season two, John Gilbert begins to cause trouble between Jenna and Alaric, and Jenna begins to suspect that Alaric isn’t completely honest with her. When Isobel Flemming, Alaric’s supposed dead wife, shows up at Jenna’s door, Jenna becomes angry with Elena and Alaric, who then tell her everything about vampires. Jenna is later turned into a vampire by Klaus to be used in the sacrifice that will release his werewolf side. She attempts to kill Greta Martin, Klaus’ witch, to stop the sacrifice and save Elena, at which point Klaus stakes her to death. Jenna is buried near Miranda Grayson and John Gilbert.