Ann O. Jennings

Ann Jennings of Elmira, New York, age 91, died on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025 at Arnot Ogden Medical Center. She was born November 3, 1933 in Enid, Oklahoma to Claire Hutton Ogle and Col. Merle W. Ogle, U.S. Army (Retired). She was a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Phi Epsilon music sorority and attended both the University of North Texas (Denton) and Southern Methodist University (Dallas) on music scholarships, graduating in 1954 with a Bachelor of Music in Education and Voice. In 1955 she had a lead in the opera, “The Necklace,” by composer-in-residence Wayne Bohrnstedt at the University of Redlands (California). For several years she taught third grade and high school choral music and later worked as a clerk and secretary, most recently in the Nurse Education Program at Elmira College, retiring in 1998. She was the widow of Royal D. Jennings, Organist-Choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Church Elmira for ten years until his death in 1993. Throughout her life, Ann performed in concerts with her husband and in church choirs and community choruses, including The Cantata Singers, The Elmira Symphony and Choral Society, and the choirs of Trinity and Grace Episcopal Churches. Besides singing, her hobbies included playing piano, reading, crewel embroidery, and knitting. In retirement she was also a Literacy Volunteer. Surviving are her step-brother (Capt.) Wayne Ogle (U.S. Coast Guard, Retired); nephews Christopher and Scott Ogle; Mrs. Kelli Ogle; children of aunt Luelle Ogle Collins (deceased): Joan, John, Rob, and Bill. Her aunt Mildred Ogle Corey; uncle Lindol Corey, cousin Kent Corey, and uncle John Ogle, Jr. are deceased. Close relatives in her husband’s family are niece Karen Kyle Harlow, daughter of Martha Jennings Kyle and R. Ted Kyle; Mrs. Hugh Kyle and children Laura and Jeff; Mrs. Ivan Jennings and children Janet, James, Robert, and Charles; Kent Jennings and Kemi Jennings Taylor, children of Keith and Amelia Jennings (deceased); and also their spouses and many great-nieces and great- nephews. Also deceased are nephews Hugh Kyle, Ronnie Smith, sister-in-law Mima Jennings, and brother-in-law Ivan Jennings. She was blessed with many dear friends in Elmira and across the country. Friends are invited to a Memorial Eucharist at Grace Episcopal Church, 375 W. Church St., Elmira on Saturday, June 21 at 9:30 a.m. Arrangements are being handled by James D. Barrett Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, 388 Upper Oakwood Ave, Elmira, NY 14903, 607-796-6061, and the Southern Tier Association for the Visually Impaired, 719 Lake St. Elmira, NY, 14901, 607-734-1554. Ann, may you raise your beautiful voice in song with the Heavenly Choir of Angels. For audio access using your phone call: dial (646) 876-9923 . You will be prompted to enter the Meeting ID: 810 3017 3120 followed by # and Password: 245943 followed by # (no personal ID needed, just hit # one more time). If you call in using a phone, you can mute and unmute yourself using *6. Or from your computer, tablet or smartphone: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81030173120?pwd=gkCRnyuQ3CPpHvPOZVo0o9ObQIy4ib. Or you can watch from Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GraceElmira/live