JENNIFER WELLINGTON — a precious gem gone too soon
A service of thanksgiving for the life of Jennifer Wellington was held at the Cavaliers Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Sunday October 8, 2017. Below is the eulogy delivered by her niece, Kechann Sutherland.
Jennifer Wellington was born on November 9, 1957, to Nashwell Wellington and Lucilda Neil of Rose Hill district in St Andrew.
She was the elder of two daughters.
She attended Miss Irene and Cookie Basic School in Salisbury Plain, then moved on to Allman Hill All-Age where she sat the Common Entrance Examination. Because Jennifer’s name was not on the list when the results were published, she was scolded by Miss G, her favourite teacher, who knew that Jennifer could have passed.
However, they later learned that Jennifer had indeed passed after the school received a letter from the Ministry of Education explaining that an error had been made.
With that hiccup out of the way, Jennifer went to St Mary’s College in Above Rocks at the age of 12.
She would refer to her high school years as “the good old days” because it was during that time that she formed many lifetime friendships.
On her graduation in 1974, Jennifer walked proudly out of St Mary’s College with five GCE subjects.
After high school she completed an advanced course in hairdressing and became the community hairdresser.
Although her services were in great demand because of the excellent job she did, Jennifer found time to do a little crochet and sewing.
Eventually she moved to Old Harbour with her dear friend, and their union produced two children – Rhona and Jason.
In September 1983 Jennifer migrated to Bermuda to live with her aunt Dor, and a year later she went to the USA where she soon found employment in Westchester County as a home health aide.
The ambitious and energetic Jennifer had her sights set on higher goals, so she became a certified nursing assistant (CNA). But she would not stop there. She enrolled at Bronx Community College while still working as a CNA.
Bronx Community College was not meeting her expectations fast enough, so she then enrolled at BOCES where she obtained her LPN Certificate.
Jennifer was big on education, so her journey continued at Rockland County Community College where she achieved one of her lifelong dreams to become a registered nurse.
There was hardship in her life, but also huge blessings. After falling ill, she waged a valiant struggle against the disease for three long years.
In her final moments, we were moved by the look of peace and tranquility that came over her face. She was beautiful and glorious as an angel as she transitioned out of this world and into the next.
Hers was a life well lived, and she was dearly loved by everyone who knew her.
Her professionalism and unwavering decency won her many friends and the respect of her peers.
She is survived by three children – Jason, Leonard and Rhona, and 10 grandchildren.
