Jill Hennessy
Hennessy in 2012, image via kathclick/bigstock.com
Birth Name: Jillian Noel Hennessy
Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date of Birth: November 25, 1968
Ethnicity:
*father – Irish, French-Canadian, Italian, Swedish
*mother – German, Ukrainian
Jill Hennessy is a Canadian actress and musician. She is known for her roles on the television series Law & Order and Crossing Jordan.
Jill is the daughter of Maxine and John Hennessy. Her sister is Jacqueline Hennessy, a journalist, television host, and actress. She is married to Paolo Mastropietro, with whom she has two children.
Jill has said that her mother is mainly a “Ukrainian Gypsy.” Jill’s mother has German and Ukrainian ancestry. It appears that Jill may not have been referring to Romani people in her statement, rather using “Gypsy” as a term for a lifestyle.
Jill’s paternal grandfather was named John D. Hennessy.
Jill’s paternal grandmother was Eleanor Marie Renaud (the daughter of Raymond Renaud and Rose Carnegie/Carnaghie). Rose was born in Ontario, to Italian parents, Louis Carnaghie and Mary.
Jill’s maternal grandfather was Harry Dearing (the son of Mack Frederick Dearing and Elsie Bertha Zielke). Harry was born in Alberta. Mack’s mother was German. Elsie was born in Alberta, the daughter of ethnic German parents from Poland, Martin Carl Zielke/Zeilke/Zilka and Christina/Christine.
Jill’s maternal grandmother was Anne/Annie/Ann Dankowich (the daughter of Steven Dankowich and Tilly Gach). Anne was born in Saskatchewan, to Ukrainian parents, of the Ukrainian Orthodox religion. Tilly was the daughter of Ivan Gach and Paraska Nykolchyk. Jill has said, “My grandmother was a powerhouse force of nature… She grew up in a Ukrainian camp outside of Edmonton, not speaking any English.”
A picture of Jill with her mother can be seen here.
Sources: https://www.avenueedmonton.com
Obituary of Jill’s paternal grandmother, Eleanor Marie (Renaud) Hennessy – http://erbgood.com
Jill’s paternal great-grandmother, Rose (Carnegie/Carnaghie) Renaud, on the 1911 Canada Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jill’s maternal grandfather, Harry Dearing, on the 1926 Canada, Prairie Provinces Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jill’s maternal great-grandmother, Elsie Bertha Zielke, on the 1916 Canada, Prairie Provinces Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Jill’s maternal grandmother, Anne/Annie/Ann Dankowich, on the 1926 Canada Prairie Provinces Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Jill’s maternal grandmother, Anne/Annie/Ann (Dankowich) Dearing – https://www.newspapers.com
Obituaries of Jill’s maternal great-grandparents, Steven Dankowich and Tilly (Gach) Dankowich – https://www.findagrave.com
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