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Epilogue| Jennifer Packer
Former bar manager loved all things Celtic
By
Stephanie Hayes, Times staff writer
In print: Friday, March 14, 2008
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Ms. Packer
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ST. PETE BEACH — Jennifer Packer loved everything Celtic, from bagpipes to blessings. She was instantly recognized at local Celtic festivals. For almost 20 years, she worked as manager of her family's bar, the Harp & Thistle on St. Pete Beach. Her mother was Irish, her father Scottish. She greeted customers with hugs. She helped Celtic bands get publicity and booked them at the bar. She drove folks home when they drank too much, but didn't care for drinking herself. She lived with her mother, Patricia Packer, on Gulf Boulevard. Her father, Bob Packer, died in 2001 of Lou Gehrig's disease. Every morning, Ms. Packer told her mother, "Good morning, my bluebird of happiness." She'd tell her mom to blow off cleaning the house. "We have better things to do." They'd pick up Ms. Packer's daughter, Meaghan, 26, and go to lunch. She remembered birthdays, sending Chuck E. Cheese coupons to nieces and nephews. She watched romantic movies at the Beach Theatre. She saw Ladies in Lavender three times. She admired Princess Diana and Audrey Hepburn and bought used books about them at the library. She also followed the Catholic faith and read literature about angels. She read her horoscope every morning and tried to avoid bad news in the paper. She was a Republican who had pictures of George and Laura Bush on her wall, alongside Elvis and the Beatles. She loved to photograph people. Once, she took a picture of her mother standing on the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. She excelled at crafts and flower arranging. For her parents' 25th anniversary, she made them a 2-foot tall ceramic wedding stein. She always left notes with smiley faces. "She was the most vibrant person that I have ever met," said Billy Hannon, a Harp & Thistle loyal. "She just helped everybody." She often went to the beach by herself to think. It's where she spent her last moments. She was pre-diabetic and took medication for high blood pressure, her mother said. Sunday, police found her body in the Intracoastal Waterway on St. Pete Beach. Her family believes she drowned accidentally. She was 51. "She drew her strength from people," said Patricia Packer. "And I drew my strength from her." Her daughter loved limericks and colloquialisms. She wrote "Love, Loyalty and Friendship" on the bottom of all her checks. One of the last things she told her daughter was, "May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live." Stephanie Hayes can be reached at shayes@sptimes.com or (727)
893-8857.
>>Biography Jennifer Packer Born: May 3, 1956 Died: March 9, 2008 Survivors: daughter, Meaghan Radkins; partner, Joseph Balog; mother, Patricia Packer; siblings, Michael, Colleen, Laurie, Julie; nieces and nephews, Robert, Michael, Thomas, Jozef, Deirdre, Sinead, Mollie, Erin, Fiona and Clover. Services: Visitation at 11 a.m. and service at 1 p.m. Saturday at Anderson-McQueen, 7820 38th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Family and friends will gather after at the Harp & Thistle room of Ricky T's Sports Bar, 6100 Beach Blvd.
[Last modified: Mar 19, 2008 09:48 AM]
Comments on this article
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by Katie
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Mar 19, 2008 9:48 AM
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Oh Pat... I am so sorry. I love you and your family as part of my own and Jen was always a big part of it. She was such a lovely shinging soul. I will always treasure my memories of the Harp and prize the kilt she gave me for Christmas,
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by Maureen Cox
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Mar 17, 2008 8:06 PM
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Very sorry to hear the news of this lovely lady's passing. She was always ready to greet all with a hug and a smile. My S.O. and I had our first date at the Harp, and we still have the party beads passed out to the patrons that evening as mement
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by Deborah Pettingill
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Mar 17, 2008 3:13 PM
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I am sad to hear of Jennifer's death. She was a large part of my husband and I's lives - our first dates were at the Harp and we celebrated every anniversary there until they close. Jennifer was a part of every one. I wish her famil
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by Lindsey
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Mar 17, 2008 2:57 PM
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Jennifer was a wonderful person. We celebrated many happy birthdays and holidays at the Harp. Jen made everyone feel like family. She will be remembered.
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by Sharon and Doc Wurster
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Mar 17, 2008 1:55 PM
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We spent many happy evenings at the Harp and Thistle with Jennifer and Pat. We will think of her whenever we listen to Celtic music especially Guiness. She was a very special lady.
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by Jeremy Tyler
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Mar 17, 2008 1:51 PM
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There is a well of love and kindness that was Jennifer's legacy to this world. Those of us who knew and loved her will ever after remember her, with every kind word and deed we perform in her honor. She will be missed, but never forgotten.
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by Doc & Sharon Wurster
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Mar 17, 2008 1:37 PM
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We have spent many happy evenings with Pat and Jennifer at the Harp and Thistle. We will think of them whenever we listen to Celtic music especially Guiness. Jennifer was a very special lady.
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by Patrick Ryan
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Mar 14, 2008 11:20 PM
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Patricia (Pat) and family I am so very sorry to here about Jennifer she was truly a very special person and friend. I know she will be missed very much. Sending my love, thoughts and prayers. Patrick Ryan
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by stephen fletcher
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Mar 14, 2008 8:27 PM
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i was a bartender at the harp and thistle for a number of years, shocked and saddened to hear this story, Jen was a beautiful and lovely person, my heart goes out to her family, especially Pat.
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by Mike & Joanne Gibbons
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Mar 14, 2008 2:17 PM
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Thank you for the beautiful obituary on Jennifer Packer. She was one of the most kind,generous people we have ever met in Florida. Every winter we visited St. Pete Beach and were so happy to see her. We will miss her terribly.
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