Doreen Penner

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DOREEN (THIESSEN) PENNER

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the peaceful passing of Doreen (Thiessen) Penner, beloved sister, auntie, and friend of many, Sunday, August 3, 2014, at her home at Rest Haven in Steinbach, due to heart failure. Embraced by the love of her family and friends, she went to her eternal home, trusting in the welcome of a compassionate and gracious God.

Doreen will be lovingly remembered by her brothers: Ron (Carol), Peter (Leona) and Leroy, plus many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Laverne (Brenda) and older brother Eldon, in infancy and also her beloved parents, John K. & Helena (Thiessen) Penner.

Doreen was born in Winnipeg, July 3, 1933 and started school in Blumenhof. But since she was born profoundly deaf, this proved unsatisfactory. So, in order to help her break her silence and find her voice, the family took the then radical step of moving to Saskatoon (along with the family of two deaf cousins, Gordon & Levi Thiessen) where Doreen attended the Saskatoon School of the Deaf from age eleven to sixteen. The family moved back to Blumenhof in 1948 where Doreen rejoined them a year later, and, at age seventeen, was baptized in the Blumenort Evangelical Mennonite Church.

After finishing her studies in Saskatoon, Doreen took a one month sewing course in Steinbach and worked out of her parents’ home as a sought-after seamstress for much of her adult life. She briefly worked at the Rest Haven Nursing Home in the late fifties, but had to quit due to ill health.

In 1958 she moved to Maryfield Saskatchewan with her family. She loved the beauty of the countryside but missed her Blumenort friends and found life lonely on the isolated prairie farm. When her parents retired to Blumenort in 1973, she became involved in the Deaf Community which was active at the Blumenort Evangelical Mennonite Church and also attended Bible studies at Calvary Temple in Winnipeg for many years. Through this, her “voice” was strengthened and she found a vocation, teaching a Sunday School class for deaf children, teaching a Bible study at the Winnipeg School of the Deaf and attending various conferences and retreats of the deaf.

At the time of her father’s death in the mid 1980s, Doreen at age 50 plus, learned how to drive a car in order to care for her mother, which she did with meticulous attention and loving care for the next fifteen years, while they both enjoyed life and good friendships at Oakwood Manor in Blumenort.

When Mom died in 2000, Doreen, now retired, hoped to go on many trips since she loved travelling. But that was not to be. Instead, after only one lovely autumn tour of the eastern USA, long-time health issues escalated and she was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). This led to a move to Cedar Wood apartments (an assisted living complex) in 2008 where she delighted in her bright apartment and enjoyed new friendships. When her health needs increased, requiring yet more care, she moved to the Rest Haven Nursing Home in 2010. She adjusted well and especially enjoyed winning at Bingo, doing puzzles until her hands became too crippled, watching humourous & inspiring videos, and delighting in the brightly-coloured flowers growing in her small garden plot.

A celebration of Doreen’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, August 7, 2014, at the Birchwood Funeral Chapel in Steinbach. Thanks to all who helped make Doreen’s last years a time of praise and thanksgiving; most recently, Rest Haven staff who cared for her personally with love; as well as her many deaf friends who organized special gatherings and birthday parties for her and came by for much-cherished visits. The Family.

Arrangements by
BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL
1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in The Carillon on Aug 06, 2014