How can we summarise this life of 86 years? A life which began before WWII and ended during a global pandemic and which spanned 9 decades? Olive Ann Jenner, this brief biography celebrates your enormous capacity to touch lives in the many different areas of your rich life.
Our recent conversations include many titles: mum; grandma; teacher; surrogate grandma and mother; sister; musician; artist; preacher; and friend - each title carrying its own set of spiralling stories from children, grandchildren, pupils, congregants, and many, many friends who knew Olive and appreciated her talents.
Our recent conversations also include many adjectives: principled; driven; aspirational; kind; determined; resilient.
Amongst the gifts given to family, friends and students are Olive's sharing of her love of the natural world, of birds and birdsong, of gardening and nurturing, of trees and wildflowers. She passionately raised food and flowers and enjoyed sharing her knowledge of what she had found out. She drew and painted nature with equal enjoyment and at the heart of her love of nature was her strong and steadfast faith in her God.
This faith underpinned so many of her activities - a lifetime of sharing her love of God with the children and adults of Lowestoft; she remained a local preacher to the day of her stroke and prepared each service with the same care, love and dedication.
Olive's sense of family and of place secured her firmly in Lowestoft and her love of her children, grandchildren, husband, Roy, and siblings gave her a determination to thrive right to the end of her life. Her siblings remember her care from an early age. Her ultra speedy recovery from an broken pelvis, at the age of 82, so she could have a holiday with Catherine, Anna and Eleanor is legend!
Everything she did was touched with music, so when the opportunity came to share her musical passion with the children of Lowestoft, there was no holding her back. Teaching from 7.30am, she blended her passion for a teaching system, with aspirations to excellence and fun and few who were taught by her will not remember this combination as they balanced tiny Easter eggs on their violins or ran races in the sunshine after a summer concert.
Her musical life was also deeply enmeshed in Waveney Sinfonia, the orchestra for which she gave so much of her time. Many musicians have enjoyed a Waveney tea between rehearsal and concert; and many music lovers have found themselves at a concert after some dedicated ticket sales!
Olive's last 2 years were a struggle for her: the stroke took away her independence, her ability to help others, and her capacity for making art. Nevertheless, she continued to touch lives as she worked to brighten the lives of the carers at her home - their sorrow at her passing is testament to this.
Live simply, so others can simply live was her motto. It was this simplicity that gave her, and all of us, such richness.
Please remember Olive on Thursday 7th May at 1pm when she reaches her final resting place at Colney Wood Burial Site. As only a very few people may attend, the family hope to share a celebration of Olive's life when larger gatherings are allowed.
Olive, you graced my life for only a short period of time, yet brought light with your incredible humour and warm smile.
May you rest in peace, safe in the knowledge that you changed many, many people's lives for the better.
Glad to have somewhere we can express our gratitude for having known Olive when we shared in the life of Trinity Methodist Church. God bless her and her family.
From my early childhood Olive was there, through all my Sunday school days. When I returned to Lowestoft and to Trinity olive was among the many people who made me welcome, remembering me from High Street days. We had some good conversations in the café on Mondays and after the service on a Sunday. She was always there with support and a listening ear. you will be missed so much , rest peacefully in the arms of God Olive, love Rosie.
In memory of a remarkable lady who found so many young musicians and their talents. (among many other things)
We fondly remember a lovely lady with whom we shared many chats at church and cafe. She was always ready for a laugh, and her love of children and music shone through. She will be missed.
Sally and Charles
I got to know Olive at Trinity Methodist Church. Quite simply she was a force of nature - principled, faithful, kind and enthusiastic. My church life was richer for her being with us. I enjoyed her company and will hold her memory fondly. Her bravery, spirit and humour shone through even though the last 2 years or so were so challenging and difficult.
To my "big" sister Olive,
Thank you for giving so much to others in your life. You were not just a sister because, for a very difficult and sad part of my very early years, you were a young mother to me.
Thank you especially for sharing your music and for encouraging us to introduce Sally to the violin. It was hard work but you always encouraged us to keep at it and look at her now!!
Thank you for sharing your faith, which was so important to you, with adults , children and me.
You expressed your worship with Taize songs and I express mine with modern worship, but our faith is the same.
Thank you for always being pleased to see us when we popped in for a coffee and a chat.
And then over the last 2 years when thing were very difficult for you and us, thank you for sharing in some crafts or a song and managing a smile and even a little joke along the way.
I will always thank God that you were and are my big sister.
Love from Doreen (The youngest sister!!) x
I’m so grateful that our paths crossed. Thank you for your friendship and support in so many ways. With much love x
Sometimes we are privileged to have our life enriched by encountering special people.
Olive was, indeed, very special.
Olive has been part of my life since I was four.She gave in to my desire to begin Sunday School at four and not wait until I was five. She has from that day onwards been the touch paper of my faith. She cared for me through some very difficult times when I was growing up and encouraged me to go to Ireland for my teacher training. Thank both you and Roy for the love and teaching that are at the heart of who I am. I give thanks for your faith and rest in the loving arms of the God you loved and adored.
Rest In Peace Olive, I’m so glad our paths crossed xxx
In loving memory of Olive Jenner. With Love from Adrian and Margaret Brown and family
That is the Olive I knew!! Love, adrian
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