Jacqueline Mae (Jackie) Clarkson

This was the message I read out at Jackie's funeral ... I thought I would include it in her messages. I was around 14 - 15 years old, I was working after school for a shoe repair store opposite the Dunedin Railway Staton. My job was to deliver and pick up shoes that needed repairing from shoe-retailer stores around Dunedin. I had a basket cycle. 
 I had just arrived back at the repairers and parked my bike outside the store when I noticed my father walking toward me from the direction of Cadbury Fry Hudson biscuit factory where he worked not more than 50 metres away. He stopped and said, “I got good news! Your mum is having a baby”. ‘Oh!” I said, “that is good news” A brief conversation followed, but this was the first news I got of Jackie’s arrival in our family. My next memory was visiting her in Queen Mary Maternity hospital some months later. Jackie had just been born and she was very cute! I did feel a special connection with her. During the following couple of weeks there were tests done that confirmed Jackie had Down-syndrome. My parents were advised to institutionalise Jackie, where she would get specialist care. At that stage of my life, I was a young teenager with a desire to pursue music. This was quite a distraction to family life, and I don’t recall being part of any further conversations regarding Jackie’s continuing wellbeing. I did think a lot about her, and always sent healing energy her way. It was fifteen years later when I connected with Jackie again. I was around 30 years old. I remember clearly an emotional moment when we met. The strong connection was still between the two of us. It had been so long … Jackie was very much a family person. Jackie and I have continued to be close since that meeting. I don’t think things would have been any different between us, had she been able to return home after being born. I was living in Auckland, Jackie in Dunedin. I came down frequently, and when I did, I would visit with her and we always enjoyed each others company. There was an understanding between us, a peacefulness that we both felt when we were in each other’s company. It wasn’t always easy for Jackie when we had to go our separate ways, but as time passed, she became more understanding with saying goodbye. There were a few occasions when Jackie came to Auckland to see me. I had a young family and there was a natural connection with all of us. One particularly notable visit was Christmas 2000. Jackie brought her microphone with her and wanted to sing backing vocals with my children. She was a star! . . . and you can see her in action in the slide show. The other thing she wanted to do was to meet the cast of the popular New Zealand TV show, Shortland St. I found out that the Shortland St studio was in West Auckland so we took a drive out there and walked into the reception. Unfortunately the actors were on a break and I had a bit of a job explaining to Jackie that the actors weren’t there at the time. Anyway, we noticed a big photo of them on the wall, so we were able to snap a shot of Jackie in front of that. You can also see that in the slide show. 
 I have never really felt that her down-syndrome has been a barrier between us. She is undoubtably a very beautiful soul who has created her life to be the way it was. She lived her life as full as a life can be lived, and Im sad to lose her, but happy that she is now back to her life as a free spirit. I know this, because last weekend when I had my 6 month old grandson Haven, sitting on my knee. He suddenly looked up above me and began to smile, I couldn’t distract him, so I turned and looked up. There was nothing there, but at that moment I suddenly became aware of Jackie’s energy in the room. Thanks Jackie! I will miss you, but soon enough, we’ll meet again.

That was a beautiful service for a beautiful lady, thank you for all the heartfelt tributes that were shared. Jackie will truly be missed.

To all the Clarkson family and friends of Jackie from all of the Anderson family. We are very sorry for your loss of Jackie , it sounds like she was a loving and funny sister to you all which will make her passing difficult for you all. No doubt you will have great memories of her to help you in the future . It is a long time since our families paths have crossed and it would be good if we could rectify that sometime. Please accept our condolences. Kind Regards Mike & Pam Anderson