Obituary of Winifred Jones

Winifred Jones was born August 15, 1925 in Colon, the Republic of Panama, to Lydia Russell of Costa Rica and David Fisher from the island of Jamaica. They immigrated to Panama so David would be able to work on the building of the Panama Canal. Winifred was one of six children, and was the last surviving member of her siblings. In 1947 she married Verne L. Jones and to them were born twin girls (Cecilia and Claudia) a year later. In 1956, Winifred and her twins immigrated to NYC to be with her husband. Ten years later they had their only son ( James) "the feather in her cap" and "the apple of her eyes". Winifred demanded excellence from her daughters and a grade of 98% was never good enough, "why couldn't you get 100%?" She was a reluctant and a seldom party-goer, prefering to be a dutiful wife, mother, and homemaker. She was the envy of her sons-in-laws who praised her for her "old ways" of being attentive to her husband and striving to meet his every needs. A woman they hoped they had married when they married her twin daughters. Surprise!!! Her twins considered her too subservient to her husband and vowed not to follow in her foot-steps. Winnie as she was called by her friends was never over-stated. She usually chose pastel colors than the "LOUD" colors of red, yellow, or orange that her daughter (Claudia) would love to wear. Outwardly, she appeared quiet and mild-mannered but she was fiercely stubborn and at times sarcastic, and she maintained her independence to the very end. She would knit her brows, cut her eyes, and choops her teeth if she thought the Know-it-all Nurse (Claudia) revealed too much of her discomfort or displeasure. Winnie was never demanding of attention, prefering to quietly stay in the shadows, as not cause any trouble. She was always self-less, putting the needs of her husband and children before herself. Left to mourn her loss are her daughter (Claudia), her son (James) and her last surviving sister-in-law (Carmen Jones), her four grand-children (Nicole, Dana, Solomon, and Ashley) and four great-grandchildren ( Nyana, Jaydin, Savanna, and Israel), and her niece (Angela Ashwood) nephew (Carlos Anthony McClaren), and other nieces (Shana, Tanisha, Kimberly, and Dana) and numerous cousins and in-laws.