WHAT was supposed to be a happy and romantic occasion had a bad turn last Saturday morning when the mother of the bridegroom died only hours before she would have the honour of witnessing her youngest son take his marriage vows with his beloved bride.
The tragedy struck in the scenic little town of Hogsback where the wedding was to take place in the famous little Anglican chapel.
Felicity Jenniker died on Saturday morning at around 05:30, presumably of a heart attack. She was 78 years old. According to a relative, Marjorie Fester, Jenniker was really looking forward to the wedding of her youngest son.
She had not yet met her son’s in-laws and was very excited to meet them for the first time.
Jenniker and her husband, Heugh, had slept over in one of the cabins on Friday evening.
During the night Jenniker complained of severe chest pains.
When the family eventually decided to take her to the doctor early on Saturday morning she collapsed and died inside the vehicle.
Her son, Giovanni and his bride, Tatum, were joined in holy matrimony later that day by Giovanni’s elder brother, who is an Anglican priest.
According to Fester, the fa-mily decided to continue with the wedding ceremony as everything had already been put in place.
Fester told Komani-Karoo Express, “There was a sombre atmosphere, but at the end of the day everything went well.”
Jenniker, who was fondly known as Flossie and Tubby by her family and friends, was a retired teacher who had started her teaching career in Fort Beaufort but later moved to East London, where she set up home and ultimately retired from teaching.
She leaves her husband, Heugh, one daughter and two sons. She will be laid to rest in East London today (Thursday).
