Mrs. Jenny Bersot (nee Richardson)

Editorial Department • Published 12 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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A well-known and much-loved member of the community in Fermanagh, Mrs. Jenny Bersot, late of Drumconnis, Ballinamallard, has unexpectedly passed away.

Her untimely death last Wednesday, August 4, at the age of 39, has been met with much shock and sadness.

Jenny was born on January 17, 1971, the elder of Forster and Lorna Richardson’s two children. She was educated locally at Jones Memorial Primary School and the Enniskillen Collegiate Grammar School. Her love of sport developed at an early age. She won her first medal -- a bronze in swimming -- at the age of five. At the Collegiate she played many sports and captained both the tennis and hockey teams. Also at school, her talent for drama was encouraged and in her first year she won the Cup for the Best Actress in the House Plays. She also performed in two school musicals, playing one of the shop boys in “Half-a-Sixpence” and later took the lead role as Annie in “Annie Get Your Gun”. She was also a member of the Girl Guides and sang in the school choir.

After A Levels, Jenny studied Applied Consumer Studies at Manchester Polytechnic. On graduating, she took a gap year, working her way across Australia in a variety of jobs including fruit picking.

On her return to England, she took up employment at the David Lewis Centre for Severe Epilepsy in Manchester before returning to higher education. She graduated with First Class Honours from the College of Ripon in York in Occupational Therapy. Whilst at York she gained valuable experience, as well as having great fun, working at the Share Centre in Lisnaskea during her summer holidays. On graduation, she found employment as an Occupational Therapist in Nottingham, which was also home to her cousin Ciara and her husband Nick.

It was while working in Nottingham in 2003, she met her husband-to-be, Claude Bersot, at a friend’s wedding in Fermanagh. A few years later the couple moved to Fermanagh, where Jenny gained employment as an Occupational Therapist in Enniskillen and Claude joined the teaching staff of the Language Department of Portora Royal School. In her work, as in her life, Jenny was popular and highly respected.

On Easter Saturday, April 7, 2007, Jenny and Claude married at Rossorry Parish Church. That day began the happiest three and a half years of her life. The couple set up home at Drumconnis, Ballinamallard where they made many good friends. Jenny and Claude also loved visiting his native France to spend time with Claude’s family, where Jenny was welcomed with open arms.

Jenny re-joined Enniskillen Tennis Club where her circle of friends further widened. She was a talented tennis player and played at a level which allowed her to represent her county. Her positive attitude during match play will be fondly remembered and she was always a great support to players when she was on the sidelines. She was a member of the Senior Managing Committee and her outgoing personality made her the centre of tennis social occasions. Friends at the club have paid tribute to Jenny’s warmth and vitality.

The courts were closed on Saturday as a mark of respect.

Jenny passed away in the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen last Wednesday. True to character, and unknown to her family, she had registered as an organ donor. Her organs are now hopefully saving the lives of others.

A celebration of her life took place on Saturday at Rossorry Parish Church, where she had been christened, confirmed and married. The Rev. Canon Desmond Kingston officiated at the service, with the assistance of the Venerable Archdeacon Cecil Pringle and Father Brian D’Arcy. During the address, Rev. Kingston summed up Jenny’s character: “Jenny was beautiful, unique, exciting, fun-loving and exhilarating who brought joy, happiness and sunshine into the lives of all who knew her”.

Jenny’s younger brother Tony led the tributes to his sister at the service, reading “You Can Shed Tears” and her husband Claude read “On Death” from The Prophet by Kahil Gibran. Mrs. Evelyn Hassard played the organ. Burial took place in the adjoining churchyard.

Jenny is survived by her husband Claude; her parents Forster and Lorna Richardson and brother Tony; her parents-in-law Jacques and Colette Bersot and a wide family circle. Funeral arrangements were conducted by W.T. Morrison, Darling Street, Enniskillen.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 12 Aug 10

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