Marie Jennings

Marie Jennings of Westminster Oaks Retirement Center died Dec. 4, 2019. She was born in Colne, Lancashire, England on August 6, 1925 to Jonathan and Florence (nee Phillip) Warren. She had six siblings. Denis, John, Philip, Bernard, Philomena, and Winifred, all of whom remain to grieve her loss except for her brother John who died at the age of 13.

Marie began her registered nursing degree at Preston Royal Infirmary in 1943, completing her program in 1947. Her training during the second World War in England left an indelible imprint on her career as a nurse. She was recognized frequently for her skill and empathy with her patients.

In 1948, Marie married Leo Jennings and had two children, Mark and Mary, before emigrating to Canada in 1954. She continued her career in St. Catharines, Ontario, where she also went on to have five more children, Philip, Robert, Monica, Christopher and Gregory. She worked as the charge nurse at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in St. Catharines in the emergency room. Although she struggled with many medical problems herself, working full time, and raising a family of 7 children, she managed it all quietly, and without the help of extended family, who were many miles away across the ocean.

In 1968, the Jennings family moved to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, which would be the first of 4 moves in 3 years between Canada and the USA. Finally, Marie and her family would settle in Warrington, PA where she once more put her skills to use at Doylestown Hospital. She was promoted to the Assistant Director position of materials management, where she was cited for researching, developing, and implementing a supply and delivery system resulting in the “dramatic reduction of revenue loss”. Her program was submitted to the International Assoc. Of Hospital Central Service Management for approval. She passed written and oral exams to become only one of 69 certified central service supervisors across the United States and Canada.

After retiring in 1983, Marie and Leo moved to Englewood Florida, where they lived until Leo’s death in 1997. In 1998, she moved to the Tallahassee area to live in a cottage built for her by her daughter Mary and son-in-law Rick. She spent the rest of her days there until her move to Westminster Oaks in 2016.

Also left to grieve her death is Marie’s son-in-law Rick Barthlow and daughters-in-law Kristie Jennings and Leslie Elsier Jennings.

Marie’s grandchildren include Christopher, Ian, Meagan, Melissa, Natalie, Robert Jr, Zachary, and Jonathan. She has one great-grandson, Jonathan and one great-granddaughter, Ella. Sadly, she was predeceased by her grandson Ian.

The task of summing up 94 years of a life filled with triumphs and tragedies in a few short paragraphs is a daunting task. She deserves more.