Obituary of Jennifer Clare Modigliani
Our beautiful mother, sister and wife, Jennifer Clare Modigliani, passed away on the last day of winter (March 19th) after a year of battling ovarian cancer. Her loving husband Hal, and five children Leah, Simone, Jessica, Jacob and Maia were with her at the end. Her departure came too soon for a mother still deeply engaged in life. We are in shock from our loss, and are facing a void that can't be filled, but we can say with certainty that she was profoundly loved. Jennifer's influence was immeasurable, shaping the interests, worldviews, and life approaches of all those who were close to her.
While raising five children, Jennifer devoted herself to numerous creative pursuits—photography, poetry, anthropological research, weaving, knitting, gardening and interior design. She was a professional photographer for almost four decades, a regular contributor to the magazines Focus On Women and Island Parent. Her extensive photography archive—thousands of meticulously documented moments—stands as testament to the rich tapestry of experiences that shaped her world. Later in life, her focus was on documenting different cultures and the natural world, dedicating herself to photographing trees and exhibiting her art work. Her appreciation of travel, animals, and the natural world was central to many of her interests. She was also an avid historical non-fiction reader, completing about a book a month. With endless curiosity, she continually expanded her knowledge of the history and diversity of world cultures, and shared these interests with those around her. Her fascination with Halloween led to a graduate thesis on the topic at the University of Victoria, and she embodied this research through making and wearing an impressive collection of costumes at parties over the years. Bringing this same focus to family celebrations, she transformed our gatherings into festive events accompanied by magical lighting and candles, handcrafted birthday cakes, decorations, and games. Her grandchildren loved these get-togethers. She was a beautiful curious soul with an immense capacity for love and a natural wit that blossomed with age, always leaving us in laughter. She will be
forever missed.
A memorial gathering will take place in Halifax this summer in early August. Please contact Jessica Earnshaw at earnshaw.jess@gmail.com for more information about the memorial.
