Of Centre Wellington (formerly Guelph) passed away unexpectedly, in her 82nd year, on October 2 2024 at Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest, Ontario. Verna was a loving mother and mother-in-law of daughter Shari Jennings and her fiancé Harry Mueller; son Glenn Jennings and his wife Gerri; and daughter Susan Philip and her husband Brian, and caring grandmother (Grandma/Nana) to Michael, Nicholas, Andrew and Adam Jennings; Andreas and Stephan Voegele; and Brogan Philip. She will be sadly missed by her dear sister and brother-in-law Donna and George Fountain, and their children, Lori and Greg. Sadly, Verna was predeceased by her devoted husband Jim (James Frederick Jennings); their darling daughter, Cindy Jean; her parents (Hugh and Ruby MacDonald); parents-in-law Zebedee Joseph and Rita (Margaret Louise) Jennings; sister-in-law Joyce Shannon (née Jennings); brother-in-law Bruce Shannon, and her best friend Marlene Heibein. Kind and compassionate, Verna had a lifelong love of animals. She surrounded herself with pets and had a multitude of animals grace her long life. Even after her last dog passed, she took on caring for a small chipmunk that would visit her for treats on the patio! Verna enjoyed nature and always loved watching the wildlife around her home. Verna retired in 2000 after nearly 40 years of service at Imperial Tobacco Ltd., Guelph. She was a dedicated and hard worker, respected and loved by all her friends and colleagues. A much beloved and cherished wife, mother, grandmother (of 7), great-grandmother (of 14), sister, aunt, great-aunt, cousin, friend, and colleague, Verna will be missed by all whose lives she touched.
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Thank you, Mom, for being you, for the life lessons you taught us, for your sassy sense of humour, your compassion, your love of animals and your strength to move on. You always said, “One day at a time, just take one day at a time.” And now, as our hearts break as we learn to move through a world without you, we too will take things one day at a time, always remembering, always loving you. Fly high and keep dancing to your own drum. We will miss you, Mom.
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Cremation has taken place and Verna will be interred, alongside her husband Jim, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Guelph, Ontario. At her request, a funeral will not take place. Instead, her life will be celebrated privately by family. Arrangements entrusted to Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel (519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com). In lieu of flowers, and in honour of Verna’s lifelong love of animals, the family kindly requests donations to a pet charity of your choice. A tree will be planted in memory of Verna J. Jennings in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.