The family wishes to extend deep gratitude to all, for the prayers, support, comforting messages, calls, cards and gifts during this time of bereavement.
Born in Ashton– Under –Lynne on 4th January 1949. She lived with her parents with relatives in Droylsden for a few years before moving to Standish, Wigan where her father worked for Heinz. The family moved to Eastcote in the early 1960’s when her father transferred to Heinz at Willesden. She attended school locally and the family were regular attendees of the Eastcote Methodist Church. After school Jennifer trained as a teacher specialising in history and geography.
After many years teaching these subjects, Jennifer took a change of direction, going back to college to train in sign language and methods for teaching hearing impaired children. After which she returned to teaching but in a school where hearing and non-hearing pupils were taught together such that Jennifer worked in tandem with other teachers signing for those pupils who needed this facility. This was at Hatch End High School. Jennifer was very well thought of as evidenced by the number of Chirstmas cards she received from former pupils and by the presence of so many of her former colleagues today.
For many years we had a Christmas family activity when Jennifer would teach us to sign a particular Chirstmas carol; I don’t think many of us reached gold star standard.
Jennifer was an enthusiastic member of the Harrow Choral society which is where she met Monique. The pair also belonged to the Malcolm Sargent choir. In 1982 they went to Sweden with the Malcom Sargent Choir to sing the Messiah with a total of 3000 voices in a stadium with and audience of 12,000 including the King of Sweden. Jennifer and & Linda performed the Messiah from scratch under the leadership of the late Sir David Wilcox at the Royal Albert Hall on several occasions.
Jennifer enjoyed travel and together she and Monique travelled extensively including Scandinavia, the Baltics, China & Hong Kong, Chile and Argentina. She also travelled in Australia as we will hear from Marlo later.
After her retirement Jennifer quickly got involved with a variety of stimulating activities. She joined a ‘knit and natter’ group, although judging by the amount of unfinished garments in her house there was more natter than knit. She joined a U3A group and was enjoying visiting cathedrals around the country – with the aim of visiting them all! She had managed to visit many before her operation on 2017. She was also a member of the V&A and attended several courses there. And there were the regular ‘get togethers’ with her former colleagues.
Her operation in 2017 was not an unqualified success but she was sufficiently recovered to plan to visit Marlo in Australia having been given medical clearance to travel. Sadly a serious infection prevented this. A subsequent operation – to correct the first one- left her worse off and she survived pneumonia plus several bouts of Covid, getting weaker every time plus becoming more and more confused; she was admitted to full time care in 2022. Cindy & Linda continued to visit regularly and Jenifer knew who they were to the end but sadly didn’t recognise others. She became less and less communicative at each visit and more & more frail. Linda’s last visit/communication was on 18 October just prior to a weeks holiday. Jennifer passed quietly away before a further visit could be made.
Wear whatever you are comfortable in. Your presence is enough
You are all welcome at 82 Evelyn Drive, Pinner, HA5 4RW
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I was very sad to learn of Jennifer ‘s death and should like to offer my sincere condolences to her family. I have known Jennifer for many years since we were colleagues together at Hatch End High School in the 1980s I had the very highest opinion of her personal and professional qualities. She was a very fine professional teacher and was liked and respected by all her colleagues. Her leadership of the unit for the deaf was outstanding and she had excellent relationships with all the pupils who came under her care. She literally transformed the lives of her… Read more »
It is with great regret that I am unable attend Jennifer’s funeral. I was honoured to have her as a teaching colleague at Hatch End High School and when I became hearing-impaired, the link was even stronger – although I worked on the skill of lip-reading, rather than signing. Jennifer was always an interesting person to talk to and when she became unwell, it was no hardship for me to sit with her, either at her home, or in a care home. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. R.I.P. Valerie Mellor Formerly Head of Modern Foreign… Read more »