Jennifer Elizabeth Bayly Crawford Heffernan, born in Bannerman House, St John's, Dominion of Newfoundland, February 3, 1930 to James Crawford and Dorothy Clunn White Crawford. Educated in Newfoundland, Canada, and England, she married the American, H. John Heffernan, in 1952, following which she lived in Wisconsin, New York State, the Dominican Republic, and New Jersey before settling in Falls Church, Virginia in 1959. Active in the parish life of two historic parishes, The Falls Church Episcopal Church, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Pitt Street in Alexandria, she contributed her considerable organizational and artistic talents to the charitable work and other activities of the parishes, to making needlework adornments, and most importantly to the choirs. Further development of her needle working skills was realized through quilting, instructing others in that, and as part of several quilting groups. Her quilts were characterized by intricate piecing of complex designs that used a wide pallet of colors and fine stitchery. Her lifelong engagement with music, which started with piano, found lasting expression not only in church, but as a decades long member of the New Dominion Chorale. Family and friendships however were the real heart of her life, with her love characterized by a steady patient pragmatism that sought to resolve challenges and bring about harmony among all she knew. Having traveled widely in Europe, Asia, and eastern North America, her genealogical interests brought to life those of prior generations for the present generation, establishing the secure, enduring sense of family and social relationships characteristic of true Newfoundlanders, with a perquisite for a good sense of humor and the ridiculous and a marked sense of openness and friendliness toward all in here orbit. These characteristics were exhibited even as she entered peacefully and painlessly into her repose, following a nearly yearlong struggle with cancer. Quilting, music, and Christian fellowship and hospitality were her supports during that time, with her last months marked by visitors and punctuated by new friendships. Her grandchildren, Andrew Heffernan of Edmonton Alberta, and Matthew Heffernan of Montreal, Quebec, having enjoyed visiting, quilting friends having expressed their respects, and the sacred rites not overlooked, she reposed at home, with family present, on March 16, 2022. In addition to Douglas, and wife Lisa, of Albemarle County, Virginia and John, and his Nahid, Fairfax County, Virginia, she is further survived by family in several parts of Canada as well as The Netherlands, Scotland, and the state of Oklahoma, and the Isle of Manx.
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