Jennifer Rose JOHNSON [1645]

  General Notes:

The Gippsland Times November 18 1965
Wed at St. Thomas'
St Thomas' Church of England, Bunyip was beautifuly decorated by the Church of England Ladies Guild on November 6 for the wedding of Jennifer Rose Johnson and Clifford Arthur Bernard Blackwell.

Jennifer is the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs L Johnson, Iona Road, Bunyip, and Clifford is the second son of Mrs T Fenn, and the late Mr. D Blackwell.

The service was conducted by Rev. Reynolds, and the organist was Mrs Hugh Pound.

Best man was Mr. C. Johnson, brother of the bride and g[r]oomsmen were Mr P Towt, nephew of the groom and Mr G. Barnett, cousin of the bride.

Jenny who was given away by her father, wore a nylon organza gown with appliqued flowers scattered from the bodice to a full train at the back, the skirt was full and the long sleeves extended to a point below the wrist.

The three tiered shoulder length tulle figured veil that she wore was sent from England by the bridges aunt.

Jennifer's bouquet consisted of a white prayer book and a trailer of lily-of-the-valley and gardenias.

Matron of honour, Mrs G Blackwell, sister-in-law of the groom and the two bridesmaids, Miss MacGibbon, niece of the bride and Miss M. Madden, niece of the groom wore identical frocks of summer pink crystal nylon over taffeta, full length frock with a straight skirt.

In their hair they had summer pink bands with white drop pearls and they carried bo[u]quets of white roses.

Their frocks were made by the grooms mother.

The bride's mother chose a mushroom pink ensemble teamed with white accessories.

A blue linen suit with shoes and bag to match was worn by the groom's mother, her access[o]ries were in pink.

At a reception held in the Church of England Hall pride of place was taken by the beautiful wedding cake made by Mr Atkinson of Bunyip.

To travel Jennifer chose a teal blue ensemble with white accessories and a gardenia shoulder spray.

The couple went on a touring honeymoon and will make their future home in Garfield.

The Warragul Gazette - Nov 23 1965 page 23
Miss Jennifer Rose Johnson, of Iona Rd., Bunyip wore a shoulder length 3 tiered figured tulle veil sent from England for her wedding to Mr Clifford Bernard Arthur [Arthur Bernard] Blackwell, on November 6.

The veil, sent to her by an aunt, highlighted her white nylon organza gown with appliqued flowers scattered from the bodie to the full train, and with sleeves which extended to a point above the wrists.

A trail bouquet of lily-of-the-valley and gardenias was tied to a prayer book which che carried.

The bride, the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs G R Johnson was attended by Mrs Mary [Nancye] Blackwell as matron-of-honour and her bridesmaids were Miss Machelle [Michele] Madden and Miss Ann MacGibbon.

The groom is the second son of Mrs T. Fern [Fenn] of Garfield Road, Garfield ad the late Mr D. Blackwell.

Best man was Mr Colin Johnson, and groomsmen were Messrs Peter Towt and Geoff Barnett.

The ceremony, which was conducted in St. Thomas' Church of England, Bunyip, by the Rev. A Johnson, was followed by a reception in the church hall.

The matron-of-honor and bridesmaids wore frocks of summer pink crystal nylon over taffeta, with scooped necklines and semi-straight full-length skirts with which white accessories were teamed.

A band of material matching her frock was worn by each bridesmaid to suport her high hair style.

Each carried a trail bouquet of white roses.

The bride's mother wore a mushroom pink ensemble with white accessories and an orchid should spray.

A blue linen ensemble and a pink hat and gloves were worn by the 'groom's mother.

For travelling the bride wore a teal blue nylon frock and coat with white acessories and a white gardenia orchid spray.

Mr and Mrs C.B.A. [C.A.B.] Blackwell will live at Garfield.

..........................................

Jenny was a natural left hander, but attended school at a time when left handed writing was frowned upon and discouraged. She was therefore forced to use her right hand for writing. When she was an adult she wrote letters with her right hand and ALWAYS swapped the pen to her left hand to write numbers.

Jenny was an accomplished musician who played the clarinet, saxophone and drums. In the late 60's early 70's, Cliff and Jenny formed a small band who played at local dances. Cliff played the bass guitar.

She loved camping, travelling, fishing and golf. Jenny was an accomplished golfer, who won many competitions and trophies locally. A tree was planted at the Garfield golf club in memory of Jenny following her death.

Herald Sun November 1 1983
BLACKWELL (Johnson) On Oct 31 at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Jennifer Rose ( Kate). Late of 42 Garfield Road. Garfield. Dearly loved wife of Cliff. Loved daughter of Stella and the late Chris Johnson of Bunyip. Loved Sister of Noel and Lurlene, Doreen, Barbara and Les, Joe and Beryl, Colin and Eve. Loved daughter-in-law of the late Thea Fenn (nee Blackwell). Loved sister-in-law of Pax and Ken, Pearl and Jim, Geoff and Nancye, Alan and Val, Beryl and Don. Aged 39 years. A wonderful wife, safe in God's care.

BLACKWELL - Jennifer Rose (nee Johnson). Oct 31. Loving youngest daughter of Chris (dec.) and Stella Johnson, Loved sister of Noel, Doreen, Barbara, Joe and Colin. Always in our hearts.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) - Jennifer Rose. On Oct. 31. Loved sister of Chris (Joe) and Beryl. Loved and loving aunt of Ken and Michele, Sharon, Darrell and Craig. Happy memories.

BLACKWELL - Jenny. Dearly loved sister-in-law of Beryl and Don, aunt of Belinda, Sherry and Glenn. Sadly missed. Always remembered and loved.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) - Jennifer Rose. Loved sister-in-law of Pearl and Jim Madden, loved aunt of Michelle, Christopher and Leonnie, great aunt of Phillip, Daniel and Lucinda. Never forgotten.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) - Jennifer Rose (Kate). Loved sister of Colin, sister-in-law of Eve Lillith, loved aunt of Gresham, Genevieve and Penelope. Always in our hearts.

BLACKWELL - Jenny. Dear sister-in-law of Val and Allan, loved auntie and pal of Greg and Andy. Happy memories.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) - Jennifer Rose. Loved sister-in-law of Geoff and Nancy(e), loved aunt of Coral, Michael and Michelle, Douglas, Charmaine, Linda and Naomi.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, Oct 31, 1983. Treasured friend of Joan and Ron Nichols. We will miss you Jen, but never forget.

BLACKWELL - Jen. Passed away Oct 31. Dearly loved niece of Uncle Perce and Auntie Pum, loved cousin of Dawn, Robert, Charles and Kay and families. Loved and remembered always R.I.P.

BLACKWELL - Jenny. Passed away Oct 31. dearly loved cousin of Robert, Dawn, Brian, Dianne, Vickie and Garry (dec). Well remembered all the happy times.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, passed away Oct 31. How lucky we were and very proud too, to have had an aunty as special as you. When thoughts go back as they always do we treasure the memories we have of you. We'll miss you always. Rest in peace Aunty Jen with Pap - Love Leanne

BLACKWELL - Jen. Oct 31. Dearly loved sister of Doreen and (Sam), much loved Aunt Jen of Grahame, Sharon, Leanne and Malcolme. I'll miss you little sister.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, kind, patient and true, what lovely memories we have of you. Rest in Peace - Gordon, June and Debbie

BLACKWELL - Jennifer. At RMH on Oct 31, loved sister of Noel, sister-in-law of Lurlene, aunty of David and Paul. David's Godmother at rest. God Bless Jen.

BLACKWELL - Jennifer Rose, passed away RMH. Loved sister of Pud. Sleeping peacefully - Barb, Les and family.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, loved niece of Wyn and Jim, cousin of Rae and Bill; Ian and Pauline and Lance. We'll never forget you Jen

BLACKWELL - Jenny, on Oct 31. Loved sister-in-law of Pax and Ken, loved aunt of Peter, Helen and family - sadly missed.

BLACKWELL - Jennifer Rose. Loved niece of Phyl and the late Wall. Sleep peacefully my Katie.

BLACKWELL - Jenny on Oct 31 1983. Loved niece - Paul, Alma and family, sadly missed.

BLACKWELL - Jenny on Oct 31, 1983. Happy memories of our dear friend and fellow golfer, R.I.P. Jen - Val Wilson and Joyce Bourchier (Trafalgar).

BLACKWELL - (Johnson) - Jenny, you were the only real friend I had - Jean.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) The funeral of the late Mrs Jennifer Rose (Kate) Blackwell, late of 42 Garfield Road, Garfield will arrive at the Bunyip Cemetery TOMORROW (Wed. Nov 2) at 2.30pm for a service at the graveside.

Herald Sun Melbourne Nov 2 1983
BLACKWELL - Jennifer Rose. Loved niece of Glad and Fido (dec.) cousin of Roger and Sue, Geoff and Trudie, Peter and Lynn and families. Peace, perfect peace

BLACKWELL - Jenfer at RMH Oct 31. Remembering my Aunt Jenfer - Anna banana

BLACKWELL - Jenny Oct 31 1983. Treasured memories of the music, the fun and the laughter we shared. A true friend, so sadly missed. Sincere sympathy to Cliff and Stella - Dawn and Geoff Woolfe.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, The Members and Associates of Garfield Golf Club pay tribute to a valued friend and competitor. Sadly missed, always remembered.

BLACKWELL - Jen.... We'll be loving you - eternally - Woody's Wombats.

I received a message from Malcolm Rigby in February 2025, the son of Jenny's sister Doreen. Malcolm wanted to share his story of Jenny's death here.

The following story is well known in the Rigby family, but not to the wider relations of Aunt Jen.
The events are recorded as true and correct. I offer it so it may be shared with others and they can be comforted in the way she died as the experience comforted me.

Psychic connection with the death of my favourite Aunt Jennifer, 31^st Oct 1983, I loved her very much.
Herald Sun November 1 1983 Death notice <https://jones3995.tripod.com/our_big_tree_pedigree/1645.htm>
BLACKWELL (Johnson) On Oct 31 at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Jennifer Rose Kate). Late of 42 Garfield Road. Garfield. Dearly loved wife of Cliff. Loved daughter of Stella and the late Chris Johnson of Bunyip. Loved Sister of Noel and Lurlene, Doreen, Barbara and Les, Joe and Beryl, Colin and Eve. Loved daughter-in-law of the late Thea Fenn (nee Blackwell). Loved sister-in-law of Pax and Ken, Pearl and Jim, Geoff and Nancye, Alan and Val, Beryl and Don. Aged 39 years. A wonderful wife, safe in God's care.

On 29^th of Oct 1983 I was asleep in my barracks in HMCS Stadacona, Halifax Nova Scotia. I was an exchange Submariner part of HMCS Ojibwa's ships company and 17,582 Km from Bunyip. We were to leave port the next morning and go on a NATO patrol in the North Atlantic, (see analysis1).
I had a dream of Aunt Jen that night. It was a vivid dream and in colour. I saw Aunt Jen's face and she was trying to say something to me, but struggled to get the words out. Her face was strange to me, one side had loose skin with an eye drooping like a Salvador Dalí painting. She spoke like you would if you had your jaw numbed by a dentist. I kept asking what was wrong and I got this feeling of pain in my head. Then without warning the whole scene went bright white and Aunt Jen's face was as clear as I remember with her smiling at me. She said "that's better now, no more pain. I'm happy, don't cry". With that, her image drifted away and up until it was all white.

I woke immediately and was really disturbed by the dream and how clear it was to me, even now after all these years. It was early morning in Halifax, 31^st Oct and late evening 1st Nov in Melbourne. I rang Mum (Doreen Rigby) from a pay phone (no mobile phones back then). On pick up by Mum, I asked "was everything OK at home?". I didn't want to mention the dream in case it had some truth to it. Mum responded, "I have been trying to send a message through the Navy to you. Your Aunt Jenny died yesterday. She had a massive stroke and they couldn't do anything for her". Wow, it hit me like cold water shock. I cried and mumbled a bit about the dream, but I had to ring off, I was running out of money and it all became a bit of a blur.
I slow walked down to the boat (Ojibwa) holding my emotions in check. Not long onboard I was called to the wardroom by the Captain. He showed me a signal from Australia via HMAS Waratah in Washington DC, to notify me that my Aunt had died. Mum had got her message through just before I rang. LtCMD Nicolson had empathy for me, he could see the news was upsetting and asked if I wanted to stay ashore. I said, "no there was nothing that could be done now, I'm better off working". But I thought of that dream and Aunt Jen's words and although sad I felt comforted and strengthened by that experience. Little did I know how I would have to rely on that feeling during this patrol.

On my return to Australia, 6 months later, I went to see Nan (Stella) in Bunyip (April 1984) and told her the story, one to one. She cried, she smiled, we hugged and she thanked me. I loved Nan just as much, I wanted her to know Jen (Kate) was happy and I believe had no pain at the time of her death.
My Aunty Jen loved me unconditionally and I loved her. I believe she is safe in God's care. Our loved ones are never gone, if their name is spoken by the living they instantly return to life. I have thought of her often over the years, I hope those who loved her as I did also gain comfort from this story. I visit the cemetery from time to time.

¹Boomers, Draggers and Black Boxes: The Operational Legacy of Canada's Oberon Class Submarines, 1983-1998 by Michael Whitby The Northern Mariner/le marin du nord, XXIII No. 4, (October 2013), 367-398.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Residence, 1944-1965, Bunyip, Vic, Australia.

2. Residence: Government Road, 1965-1973, Garfield, Vic, Australia.

3. Residence: 42 Garfield Road, 1973-1983, Garfield, Vic, Australia.

4. Obituary: Herald Sun Newspaper, 1 Nov 1983, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Herald Sun November 1 1983

BLACKWELL (Johnson) On Oct 31 at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Jennifer Rose Kate). Late of 42 Garfield Road. Garfield. Dearly loved wife of Cliff. Loved daughter of Stella and the late Chris Johnson of Bunyip. Loved Sister of Noel and Lurlene, DOreen, Barbara and Les, Joe and Beryl, Colin and Eve. Loved daughter-in-law of the late Thea Fenn (nee Blackewll). Loved sister-in-law of Pax and Ken, Pearl and Jim, Geoff and Nancye, Alan and Val, Beryl and Don. Aged 39 years A wonderful wife, safe in God's care.

BLACKWELL - Jennifer Rose (nee Johnson). Oct 31. Loving youngest daughter of Chris (dec.) and Stella Johnson, Loved sister of Noel, Doreen, Barbara, Joe and Colin. Always in our hearts.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) - Jennifer Rose. On Oct. 31. Loved sister of Chris (Joe) and Beryl. Loved and loving aunt of Ken and Michele, Sharon, Darrell and Craig. Happy memories.

BLACKWELL - Jenny. Dearly loved sister-in-law of Beryl and Don, aunt of Belinda, Sherry and GLenn. Sadly missed. Always remembered and loved.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) - Jennifer Rose. Loved sister-in-law of Pearl and Jim Madden, loved aunt of Michelle, Christopher and Leonnie, great aunt of Phillip, Daniel and Lucinda. Never forgotten.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) - Jennifer Rose (Kate). Loved sister of Colin, sister-in-law of Eve Lillith, loved aunt of Gresham, Genevieve and Penelope. Always in our hearts.

BLACKWELL - Jenny. Dear sister-in-law of Val and Allan, loved auntie and pal of Greg and Andy. Happy memories.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) - Jennifer Rose. Loved sister-in-law of Geoff and Nancy(e), loved aunt of Coral, Michael and Michelle, Douglas, Charmaine, Linda and Naomi.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, Oct 31, 1983. Tresured friend of Joan and Ron Nichols. We will miss you Jen, but never forget.

BLACKWELL - Jen. Passed away Oct 31. Dearly loved niece of Uncle Perce and Auntie Pum, loved cousin of Dawn, Robert, Charles and Kay and families. Loved and remembered always R.I.P.

BLACKWELL - Jenny. Passed away Oc 31. dearly loved cousin of Robert, Dawn, Brian, Dianne, Vickie and Garry (dec). Well remembered all the happy times.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, passed away Oct 31. How lucky we were and very proud too, to have had an aunty as special as you. When thoughts go back as they always do we treasure the memories we have of you. We'll miss you always. Rest in peace Aunty Jen with Pap - Love Leanne

BLACKWELL - Jen. Oct 31. Dearly loved sister of Doreen and (Sam), much loved Aunt Jen of Grahame, Sharon, Leanne and Malcolme. I'll miss you little sister.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, kind, patienet and true, what lovely memories we have of you. Rest in Peace - Grodon, June and Debbie

BLACKWELL - Jennifer. At RMH on Oct 31, loved sister of Noel, sister-in-law of Lurlene, aunty of David and Paul. David's Godmother at rest. God Bless Jen.

BLACKWELL - Jennifer Rose, passed away RMH. Loved sister of Pud. Sleeping peacefully - Barb, Les and family.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, loved niece of Wyn and Jim, cousin of Rae and Bill; Ian and Pauline and Lance. We'll never forget you Jen

BLACKWELL - Jenny, on Oct 31. Loved sister-in-law of Pax and Ken, loved aunt of Peter, Helen and family - sadly missed.

BLACKWELL - Jennifer Rose. Loved niece of Phyl and the late Wall. Sleep peaefully my Katie.

BLACKWELL - Jenny on Oct 31 1983. Loved niee - Paul, Alma and family, sadly missed.

BLACKWELL - Jenny on Ot 31, 1983. Happy memories of our dear friend and fellow golfer, R.I.P. Jen - Val Wilson and Joyce Bourchier (Trafalgar).

BLACKWELL - (Johnson) - Jenny, you were the only real friend I had - Jean.

BLACKWELL (Johnson) The funeral of the late Mrs Jennifer Rose (Kate) Blackwell, late of 42 Garfield Road, Garfield will arrive at the Bunyip Cemetery TOMORROW (Wed. Nov 2) at 2.30pm for a service at the graveside.

Herald Sun Melbourne Nov 2 1983
BLACKWELL - Jennifer Rose. Loved niece of Glad and Fido (dec.) cousin of Roger and Sue, Geoff and Trudie, Peter and Lynn and families. Peace, perfect peace

BLACKWELL - Jenfer at RMH Oct 31. Remembering my Aunt Jenfer - Anna banana

BLACKWELL - Jenny Oct 31 1983. Treasured memories of the music, the fun and the laughter we shared. A true friend, so sadly missed. Sincere sympathy to Cliff and Stella - Dawn and Geoff Woolfe.

BLACKWELL - Jenny, The Members and Associates of Garfield Golf Club pay tribute to a valued friend and competitor. Sadly missed, always remembered.

BLACKWELL - Je.... We'll be loving you - eternally - Woody's Wombats.

Jennifer married Clifford Arthur Bernard BLACKWELL [1612] [MRIN: 508], son of Douglas Lancelot BLACKWELL [242] and Theadora MORGAN DAWES [241].