Janet Godfrey is actually Bruce's second wife. Nobody (except her and Jack, I guess) knows the name of his first wife. Jack hasn't declined to mention it, since it was a very short marriage. I presume he wishes to preserve the lady's privacy.
Preserve means keep, maintain. For example, to "preserve the Union" would mean to keep it from falling apart into independent states.
how did they preserve the body
I preserve my loving family.
The brain was disposed of. They did not preserve it.
how do you preserve the bud of a flower
You cant preserve graciousness. But you can be gracious.
Wetlands Preserve ended in 2001.
You can preserve a flower petal by dehydrating it.
On meat, salt can preserve food.
It was written to preserve the states' sovereignty.
Shambala Preserve was created in 1983.