Jennifer Gertrude Jefferson

Jennifer met her husband Murdoch in the summer of 1958, at sixteen years old. She enjoyed singing and teaching at the Fisherwick Presbyterian Church and was appointed as a Brown Owl. In the Fall of 1958, Jenny and Murdoch were invited to lead a youth group at St. Dorothea’s, Church of Ireland community in Gilnahirk, which made their connection stronger. With her retail experience, she managed her family’s children’s store in Belfast, called The Little Folk.

Jenny and Murdoch were married in 1963 living in Glengormley until Spring 1966 when they moved with their two children to Blewbury, England. With their three children they returned to Northern Ireland two years later setting up home in Ballymena. Eighteen months later in the Fall of 1969, with their four children, they emigrated to Oakville, Ontario. They moved seven times in the next 53 years to Markham, Baldwin, Newmarket, Niagara Falls, again to Markham, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and finally to Hamilton.

In 1978, Jenny and Murdoch purchased the Baldwin General Store to serve a rural, farming community. With their family and staff, they ran the retail business for 7 years, until 1985 when their children were graduating and leaving home. They designed and built their new home in Niagara-on-the-lake to operate a bed and breakfast, called “Broughshane House”, from 1996 to 2003. In both their business ventures and personal life, Jenny had a nurturing understanding of people. They have continued to enjoy participating in and contributing to church congregational life as well as in guiding, scouting and football (soccer) in every community where they have set up a home. Jenny became the Guiding District Commissioner in Oakville as well.

Jennifer will be remembered for her charisma, loving nature, and her pouches of Sugar Twin that she carried with her everywhere. Jenny is survived by her devoted husband, Murdoch, and her loving children, Karen, Paul (Linda), Tania (Vince), and Amanda (Freddy). She will always be loved and remembered by her grandchildren, Frank (Nicole), Justin, Joe (Alyssa), Colin, Brittany, Alex, Mallory, and Nikolas, and her two great-grandchildren, Aoife and Beau.

Jennifer’s innate ability for pastoral care and counselling will live on through her family.

Cremation has taken place and a service to celebrate Jennifer's life will be held at the MARKEY-DERMODY FUNERAL HOME, 1774 King Street East (at Kenilworth) on Friday June 10, 2022 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Ancaster or the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be sincerely appreciated. A livestream of the service will be available by logging on to Jennifer’s page at markeydermody.com.