Story :Philip Ireson
A memorial service for Jean Clack was held at Christ Church Pitsmoor on 20th December 2013, attended by a congregation of family and friends.
Jean was born just as the Second WorldWar was starting in September 1939. Her father was a railwayman and the family lived in Oborne Street throughout the blackout and the blitz. Oborne St was near Rock St and the railway. The house was demolished in the 1970s and the whole street disappeared.
During her childhood Jean learnt about God at the Denholme Chapel Sunday School on Spital Hill. She attended Pye Bank School and then Burngreave School but did not have a happy time there – in fact she really preferred the Sunday School as an educational experience. Jean's faith stayed with her all her life; she prayed regularly for her family and used the Lord's Prayer before she went to sleep.
Jean worked as a tool assembler at John Bedford & Sons Ltd in Mowbray Street, Neepsend, where she was remembered as a popular member of the workforce and received a gold watch for 25 years of loyal service. In 1962 Jean moved to the new maisonettes on Pye Bank Road. She and her nephew Kevin were amongst the last to move out of there in 2002 before the housing was demolished.
Since then she has lived at Polka Court and operated an ‘open door’ policy – her home was always a place for people to call in at any time. Her family remember especially her Yorkshire puddings, meat and potato pie and birthday cakes, amongst other Yorkshire delicacies. They also enjoyed many family outings and picnics together at Millhouses Park. She has enjoyed being a regular member of the Christ Church Lunch Club, as shown in the photograph. Her family are grateful to the care workers from Care UK and Allied Healthcare who worked so hard to make Jean's life as comfortable as possible.