Jennifer Ann (Jaquette) Keiderling

Jennifer Ann Keiderling (nee Jaquette), a 35-year resident of Watsonville, CA, died at age 84 at Stanford Hospital on February 19, 2024 of heart failure. Jennifer was born to Ruth Naomi Jaquette (nee Flint) and Ellis Arthur Jaquette in Alturas, California, on January 14, 1940. Jennifer grew up in the town of Westwood, in Lassen County, California. Jennifer attended schools in Westwood and graduated from Westwood High School in 1956. Jennifer studied nursing at the Mount Zion Hospital & School of Nursing in San Francisco, graduating in 1959.

While still a nursing student, she met her first husband, Charles (Chuck) Bigelow, while singing in a church choir in San Francisco. They were married on August 8,1959, at the Glide Memorial Church. In 1960, they left San Francisco and traveled across the United States, visiting relatives on their way to New York, where they boarded a ship and sailed to Europe. They settled in Copenhagen, Denmark for about 2 years, studied Danish together, and learned to read, write, and speak in Danish. Their first child (Bruce) was born in Copenhagen during their European adventure.

They returned to California in 1961, and settled in Menlo Park. Jennifer had her second child (Betsy) in 1963, and third child (Keith) in 1966. After several years of caring for small children, Jennifer resumed her medical career as a recovery room nurse at the Stanford University Hospital and started what she called her "political career". She worked on campaigns in Menlo Park for urban growth and public transportation, and was an active member of the League of Women Voters. She participated (with children in tow) in protest marches against the VietNam war, and later in the "Watergate" protests that led to the resignation of Richard Nixon. She was appointed to the Menlo Park Planning Commission in 1972, and at age 34, was the first woman elected to the Menlo Park City Council. She served as the Mayor Pro-Tem in 1977.

In the early '80's, with 2 of her three children away at college, she began her college education at Canada Community College in Redwood City, and later transferred to the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1985. Shortly after completing her BA, she bought a house in Scotts Valley, and resumed her nursing career at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. She retired from nursing in 2003.

Her friendship with Nic Keiderling, her real estate agent in Scotts Valley, led to a romantic relationship, and she and Nic married in January, 1993. They later relocated to Watsonville, where Jennifer lived for the rest of her life.

Jennifer loved gardening and she and Nic together tended a garden that includes 40 rose bushes. Jennifer enjoyed playing the piano and organ. Her love of music began early in life, and as a teen, she played the piano at her church in Westwood. In retirement, she continued to play piano and organ for services at several churches in Watsonville, and taught piano lessons. She also enjoyed teaching English as a Second Language during retirement. A gift of a poetry book in her youth inspired a lifelong love of poetry, including "Invictus," "The Highwayman," and "Delicately Plummeting Bodies". She shared her love of music with her children, raising them on Stevie Wonder, Elton John, the Eagles and the Electric Light Orchestra. She was a skilled player of Rummikub and Mahjong (she always preferred to win!). She was beloved by friends and family alike for her warmth, and sense of humor and adventure.

Jennifer was predeceased by her mother Ruth, her father Ellis, and her older brother Damon. She is survived by her loving husband Nic, her sons, Bruce Bigelow (Rebecca Bernstein), Keith Bigelow (Gabriela Giacchino); and daughter Betsy Bigelow-Teller (Chuck Teller, deceased); her grandchildren, Lydia Bigelow Weiss (Eric Weiss); Ellis Tarn (Aletha Tarn); Noah Teller (Annette Casillas); Eden Teller (Gabs Semansky); Mia Teller; Will Bigelow, Zachary Bigelow; and her great grandchildren, Henry and Owen Weiss, and Violet Tarn. She is also survived by her brother, Ivan Jaquette, and his family. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., at the Holy Eucharist Catholic Community Church, 527 Corralitos Rd., Watsonville, CA.

Published in The Pajaronian · February 28, 2024