Good afternoon, and on behalf of Jennifer’s family thank you for coming to this celebration of her life.
How does one sum up such a well lived life in only a few words… well you don’t, you touch on a few memories, reminisce about special moments, and reflect on the loss of a friend and loved one.
What comes to mind when I think of Jennifer, among so many wonderful memories, is family, friendship, horses, singing and theatre!
Jennifer was the youngest daughter of George and Celia Watson, her sister Ann sends her love from England. Jennifer was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. And in true English fashion she attended Rugeley boarding school, “I think” she did mention that she once met Harry Potter at a inter-school meet. Once Jennifer completed school she soon began working with horses at Culworth House in Banbury, a love that we all know lasted her lifetime. During this time she also taught Equitation in Vienna, Austria for a year, with her best friend Barb Child. While there the two friends bought a scooter to commute to work, the only problem was that it only had enough power to carry one of the young ladies up a hill… so they had to take turns walking and riding the hills! Jen also worked for an auction house in England and another piece of trivia, she once met the Beetles, before they were too famous and she really liked them, she also met the Rolling Stones, but she thought they were a bit rough.
In 1968 Jennifer travelled to Edmonton to visit a relative, while there a blind date was arranged with a “dishy young bachelor”, and the rest is history, Brian and Jennifer were married on April 25, 1969. Shortly thereafter they moved to Oliver, with a brief stopover in Penticton. They bought their first home on what is now Airport Street just north of the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre. Here Jennifer’s father helped her plan out her garden, one she was very proud of, planted with many roses. She also planted Iris’s across the road, which unfortunately kept getting mowed over by the village crew, but they were tough flowers and kept coming back! Jen had bantam chickens, which Brian made a portable run for, a goat and for a short time a goose, but it scared everyone, so it had to move on. And she had her first horse, Sara, which boarded at Fran Lepp’s out on Island Way, but it would occasionally visit town. It was a happy home, in 1971 Celia was born, and in 1975 Kathryn was welcomed to the family. But now, Jennifer began to think of the future… and having two teenage girls living in town.
On a horse ride one day on Island road Jennifer discovered a small piece of property that looked ideal for a growing family… and across the road lived a realtor by the name of Paul Dumoret who said he would let her know when it came up for sale… well when it did a deal was struck and Mapplebeck Acres began… okay, well that’s what I called it. The family moved in in 1980, and since that time I am sure everyone here has visited, either for a meeting, a barbecue, a cuppa tea, a dinner, a lunch, a talk, a cry, or a wonderful party! Jennifer was always so inviting, “just stop by, come in, leave your shoes on”. The home was small to start off with, but with Jennifer’s vision and Brian’s hard work they renovated it to fit their style… and what a style! Warm, comfortable and inviting, family pictures and Brian’s artwork adorn the walls, heirlooms, knit-knacks and memories on display, everything a home should be… and far enough out of town to keep those girls safe (well, Celia admitted that it really wasn’t too hard a bike ride into town in the dark if you planned it right.)
Kathryn said of her mom “She let us make a mess of the house, and was not too angry at us for it! She was a parent first but always was our friend. Didn’t meddle in our lives, but was always there to help or listen when we needed to talk.” And according to Celia a lot of those talks would take place while Jennifer was enjoying a bath, she would be in her bath and call a daughter in and they would have talk, maybe a lecture or oops, get grounded, but always with love.
Over the years a multitude creatures called Mapplebeck Acres home, chicken’s, a rooster named Rocky, who was really a pet, Daisy the cow, who thought she was a dog, and was part of an “underground” milk ring, a nanny goat and two kids, that’s goat kids, and cats, Blackie, Cindy, Fluffy, Jasmine, Jake, Jamie, Frank, Patches, BJ, and now Charlie, and of course always a dog, usually from the SPCA: Suzi-Q, Gypsy, Macho, Tippy, Bobo, and Leisal and Bear & Ranger today.
Mmmm… what else… oh yes the horses… now we’ve met Sara, then there was Goldie, Honey, Bunny and Blaze, Daks and Maggie, and Teeko, and now it’s Max and Opie! And all those animals required tending, Jennifer was up early every day to do chores, and to get it done before the heat of the day, Jennifer loved them all. Now to me that is a farm, a home and a wonderful place to grow up!
After the girls got older Jennifer worked off the farm, she held jobs in Oliver and Osoyoos, and any job she had she would work above and beyond what was needed, and made close friends of those she worked for and with. But to get to those jobs she had to learn to drive… so when Jennifer was 50, and as she said you are never to old to learn something new that you really want to do. She got her friend Stefan Cieslik to teach her to drive, lessons took place on White Lake Road, Jennifer was so proud of learning to drive. Brian was not allowed to give lessons, he may have been able to teach the girls to drive, but not Jen.
Her first car was a Toyota Corolla with standard transmission, then her trusty little truck… Jennifer loved her independence and strived to teach that to Celia and Kathryn, she loved being Mrs. Brian Mapplebeck, but she also liked to have her own money to spend and her own email address!
As we all know Jennifer had a beautiful soprano voice, her first musical in Oliver was Oklahoma in the 1970’s … and I really don’t think she missed a musical or a play since then, she was an actor, singer, costumer, producer, coincidentally her first role as producer was also for Oklahoma in 1993, and by far the best stage manager ever! Stage managing is like herding cats, and Jennifer could always keep the actors, director, producer and crew going in the right direction. She loved her role in the Merry Widow and had her photo in Beautiful BC Magazine when it featured local arts. Jennifer was a founding director of the South Okanagan Amateur Players, she was a staunch supporter of SOAP, and the arts in Oliver. Jen also sang with the Yuletide Singers and the St. Edward’s Singers, she sang with the latter group on Easter Sunday, three days before her passing. Oh, and we can’t forget the Mapplebeck Singers, who sang at our wedding. She was a member of the Oliver Community Arts Council and a dedicated volunteer. If it needed to be done, Jennifer would do it, or find someone to do the job, and believe me it was hard to say no to Jennifer!
At home Jennifer loved to read, she would read anything from mysteries to Harlequins, to historical books, and she loved her Coronation Street, with a nice glass of wine! She learned to cross-stitch from Kathryn, and some of her knitted creations can be seen next door at the Seventh Day Adventist Hall. She was a great baker and at Christmas time would make a traditional English Christmas pudding and make sure each of the girls took a turn stirring it and making a wish. Every holiday was special with Jennifer. She loved her family, Brian, Celia, Kathryn, her grandchildren Alex, Lucas, Alyssa and Keira, she was proud of each of them and her eyes would light up whenever you asked how her family was doing.
I am so thankful that I had Jennifer in my life, she was a genuine friend, she shared her love and spirit with everyone she met.
Her granddaughter Keria wanted to share these thoughts: “People have things to be remembered for, and Nana has a-lot of things to remember her for. She had a lot of friends and she was always busy. And I’m glad that I have her name in my name. I loved her and I always will love her!!!!
Keira Jennifer
One last note that Brian sent me was, “Jennifer was very particular about misplaced modifiers in her language. “It’s not a knitted child’s sweater; it’s a child’s knitted sweater.”” Well, I think I may have misplaced a few modifiers, so please forgive me Jennifer and if any of you find them please give them back.
Well the curtain has come down on Jennifer’s final show… and what a run it has been!
As Jennifer makes her grand entrance onstage at that great theatre in the sky, please rise and join me in a standing ovation for Jennifer’s curtain call on earth.