JAN BERNICE SMIRNOV

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JAN BERNICE SMIRNOV (nee Fearnley) January 15, 1957 - March 29, 2010 With deep sadness we announce that Jan Bernice Smirnov has passed away after a courageous 12 and one-half year battle against Diffuse Scleroderma, at the age of 53. Jan was born in North Bay, Ontario to parents Raymond and Bernice Fearnley, and is a sister to Mark, Gregg and Todd. She grew up in North Bay and shortly after her marriage to Ben Smirnov (December 19, 1981) she moved to Flin Flon, Manitoba in 1982. In 1987 she moved to Headingley, Manitoba where she made a home for her growing family. Jan attended the Chippewa High School in North Bay, Ontario and later in life graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1998 with a degree in Physiotherapy. This led to work in India, Africa and British Columbia. Jan will be forever missed by her husband Ben, children Scott (Luis), Lindsay (Chris), and Laura (Daryl), her mother Bernice Fearnley, granddaughter Brielle, countless other family and friends whom were blessed to know her. Jan lived for her family, friends and beloved pets, and she devoted her life to them. She was extremely passionate about her rock and roll music and she attended as many concerts as humanly possible. She was a very athletic woman who enjoyed skiing, dancing, volleyball and numerous other sports and activities. She loved to travel, and even after being diagnosed with her debilitating disease in 1998, her passion for life never slowed her down. She was constantly helping others and was a strong support system for everyone who knew her. Together with the support of her loved ones and Jan's strong will to live, she fought a courageous battle against her Scleroderma through participation in clinical trials for research in Romania, California, and Manitoba. Jan will be in our hearts forever. Her generous heart, uplifting spirit and kind soul will be remembered for eternity. Friends and Family are invited to attend a celebration of her life service on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 10:30 a.m., at the Grace Community Church, 280 Caron Road, Headingley, MB R4H 1B4. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations are sent to the Scleroderma Society of Canada, 1240 Tara Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 2H5 or www.scleroderma.ca/donations.php.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 05, 2010