23/6/1937- 27/4/2018

Jeanette Rose Wilkins was born in Inverell on June 23, 1937- the fifth and youngest children of Rose Heather Jane and Alfred Thomas Wilkins.

She is survived by one sister. Jeanette attended school at Delungra before completing her secondary education at Inverell High School.

Her working life began at the Marcus Clarke store in Otho Street where she remained for several years before moving on to 2NZ, completing over 10 years of service there in administration.

David was born in 1963 and was raised in the Brae Street home that he and Trish have since made their family home. Grandma Wilkins lived with Jeanette and David and her input in their lives was cherished by the three of them.

When Jeanette met Michael Bell in 1974- David was to share the title of ‘equal apple of her eye’- but he was happy to share that with Mike.

Mike and Jeanette married on June 25, 1977 and they moved to Oswald Street. They shared a very contented marriage and when Mike died four years ago, it was a huge blow; Jeanette felt the loneliness deeply.

She picked up the pieces and continued to live independently for a couple of years- grateful to have the family close and the friendship and support of good neighbours and friends.

David spent many happy weekends with Mike on his property at “Little Plain” doing all things boys loved. After Jeanette retired, she took up lawn bowls and became pretty good at it.

She also had more time for knitting, crocheting, quilting and sewing which she was always skillful at. When bowls became too much for the aging joints, Jeanette took up the painstaking, delicate and precise art of making porcelain dolls.

From start to finish, she has many amazing dolls from clowns to lifelike babies and everything in between. She attended classes with a group at Welcome Back with tutor Marlene from Glen Innes.

When there was a collection for firing, the group took their treasures over to Glen for firing in Marlene’s kiln.

Jeanette’s first love though was family- and Trish said she was an amazing mother-in-law and grandma who looked after their three boys when she returned to work.

It was never any trouble to replace a zip or mend a tear, or to make this or that for them. I’m sure she would have loved to sew little girly things.

Two years ago, Jeanette’s health became an issue and continued to deteriorate. For her own and her family’s piece of mind it was decided she go for respite at Sunhaven which turned out to be permanent care for her last three months.

She and the family were extremely grateful for the care she received there and say a sincere thank you to all of the staff.

During her time at Sunhaven, the staff encouraged Jeanette to continue with her sewing and crafts and though the deterioration of her health was fairly rapid over the last three weeks, she was still crocheting until her last week.

David and Trish said of their Mum that she was a worrier so they gave her theirs also. She was a fusser, wanted to care and provide for everyone to the best of her ability.

She was very kind-hearted, didn’t ever want to put anyone out and was always putting others before her own needs.

She was polite and continually apologizing, “sorry to be a nuisance” were words often spoken- and she was a perfectionist.

She will be remembered for her love for family and will be sadly missed.