Nola Joan Jennings

Nola Joan Saffer Jennings entered eternal rest on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at age 86, the same age as her husband. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey on September 3, 1932 to the late William Saffer and the late Mary Catherine Murphy. Baptized in and named after the City of New Orleans, the State of Louisiana, and Saint Joan of Arc, The Maid of Orléans. Married for 57 years, she was the beloved bride of the late Louis Jennings Jr. Loving mother of four sons: Louis Simon (deceased), Thomas William, Stephen James and Robert Louis. Also survived by her loving and cherished daughter-in-law Odette Marie Ordeneaux Jennings and three grandchildren: Isaac, Martha and Hannah. She has a devoted niece, Susan Cappa and two grand nieces, Stephanie Cappa-Cox, and Christine Cappa, and a supportive nephew James Jennings Jr. along with a host of other nephews and nieces.

Until Hurricane Katrina, Nola was a parishioner of Saint Brigid Catholic Church in New Orleans East; after returning from evacuation in Anniston, Alabama (Thank You, Anniston, for so much!), she became a parishioner of Mary Queen of Vietnam Church. Throughout her life, she gave of her time, energy and earnings to worthy causes and benevolent organizations: the American Cancer Fund, the American Red Cross, in gratitude for its assistance in the aftermath of Katrina, and the SPCA, to name a few. A devout Catholic, she supported her local parish church in the many neighborhoods in New Orleans she lived in throughout her life. As a Eucharistic Minister, she would provide compassion and companionship to the sick and elderly before needing this care for herself. A special thank you to Donna Silva and her employee Cyntrell Jones of Donna’s Angels for the loving care provided to her.
Nola graduated from Eleanor McMain High School in 1950, and soon after was married with a baby. She retired from Sears. She enjoyed spending weekends and vacations at the family fishing camp in Waveland, MS. A child of The Great Depression, World War II, and other lean times, Nola was not a world traveler, but she did experience the well-earned luxury of a couple cruises and trips to the East and West Coasts. Avisitation will be Monday, July 22, 2019 at JACOB SCHOEN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119 beginning at 9:00 AM until service time.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the J. Garic Schoen Chapel at 12:15 PM.  Interment will immediately follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery No. 2, 5000 Canal Street in New Orleans, where Nola will be laid to rest next to her husband Louis. In lieu of flowers the family requests Masses and donations to charities in her memory. Please visit www.schoenfh.com to view and sign the family guestbook. In the last 16 years of her life, Nola suffered unrelenting, and often excruciating pain of Postherpetic Neuralgia, a complication from Shingles. Postherpetic Neuralgia is caused by the Chicken Pox virus, which reactivates and attacks pain receptor nerve cells. There is no effective medication or treatment for the pain. The ineffective medications and treatments are expensive, especially as they add up over the years. The only way Nola could endure the pain was to stay in bed. This robbed her of her quality of life, her strength and mobility, her money and eventually her life itself. On her behalf, and in honor of her memory and legacy, we urge everyone who has had Chicken Pox to be vaccinated against Shingles.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nola Joan Jennings, please visit our floral store.