Tributes are pouring in for former Bahrain resident Jennifer Perry, who died recently at a hospice in her home country of Ireland.
Ms Perry died on January 27 at the age of 56, at Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross after a long battle with breast cancer.
“Jennifer had such a warm and fun personality – we met when we started working at Gulf Air together back in August 1990,” Ms Perry’s close friend Diane Mitchell told the GDN.
Ms Mitchell and Ms Perry in September last year
“This was just as the Gulf War had started so we got gas masks issued, and we usually stayed in small groups, but we got quite close then and remained so.
“We travelled all over the world together, even taking our families along – Jennifer was just always up for an adventure. It was her dream to show her mum the world, and she definitely did that.”
Ms Perry lived for 30 years in Bahrain from 1990 until 2020, spending more than half her life in the kingdom where she met her husband and raised her son Luke.
Ms Perry with her son Luke, in their younger days
“The first time I ever saw Jen, I was struck by her beauty and aura,” another close friend, publisher George Middleton, wrote in a tribute to Ms Perry. “But it was only years later, when we developed a warm and deeply personal friendship, that I truly came to understand how special she was, inside as well as out.
“That bond only grew stronger after she left Bahrain six years ago due to ill health.
“One of the great injustices of life was that her outward beauty sometimes distracted people from taking the time to truly know and appreciate the depth of her heart and soul.
“Yet those who did were richly rewarded. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have known and cherished the real Jenny within – the woman of kindness, strength, warmth and grace – quite apart from the striking presence she carried so effortlessly.”
During her time here, Ms Perry was an active member of the Bahrain Rugby Football Club, with many of her friends in the community even supporting her when she had to return to Ireland.
Ms Perry, right, with Luke and her dog Shelby
Ms Perry left Bahrain after being diagnosed with cancer to receive treatment, and although initial results were promising, ultimately the cancer returned and she had to rely on radiotherapy treatments every three weeks.
She was also an avid dog-lover, and when she left Bahrain, she took a piece of the kingdom back home in the form of a former stray dog Shelby, who is currently 15 years old and living with a friend in Ireland.
Ms Perry
“Her two big loves were her son Luke, whom she doted upon throughout his life, as well as dogs,” Ms Mitchell added. “She was involved with the BSPCA, and took Shelby in, even when she already had two dogs.
“As for her son, until her final days, she would find time despite her treatments to visit him in Budapest, whenever she could. She even had tickets booked even though she knew she was dying, so she could see him.”
Ms Perry leaves behind her son, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, extended family and a large circle of friends, many of whom flew in for her funeral and cremation on January 31 in the Garden Chapel at Mount Jerome Crematorium.
“Jen knew the secret of happiness, it was in living for others,” her friend Eibhlin Cross said, during her eulogy.
“She shielded us all from her suffering, she never wanted us to feel sad.
“Jen’s dance would not reflect her inevitable fear but her boundless courage.
“She drew her strength from the wellspring and outpouring of love from us all.
“Wherever we were, be it her beloved Bahrain, Ireland or some far flung corner of the world, she was grateful for our contact.
“She relished our news and held us in her heart.
“A life that was lived with grace. That was our Jen.”
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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