JANET RICHARDSON KERR WIDLAKE (RENNIE)

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JANET RICHARDSON KERR WIDLAKE (nee RENNIE) Peacefully, having said her final farewells to her family, Jennie passed away at Oakview Place Personal Care Home on March 14, 2007, in her 93rd year. Jennie was born on September 19, 1914, in Transcona to Alexander and Marion Rennie. Her childhood and school days were happy times for her. In 1940 she left her job at Eaton's Mail Order in Winnipeg to marry Ted Widlake, who had grown up just down the street from her. Six weeks later, she and Ted moved to Saskatoon where they remained and raised a family, except for the years that Ted was in the navy, during which time she and her little girls came back to Transcona. After the war, the family returned to Saskatoon, where Jennie gave birth to a son in 1950. While the children were young Jennie stayed at home, but later returned to work at The Bay. In 1992 Ted fulfilled his promise to bring Jennie back home to Winnipeg and her extended family here. Since that time she has lived in St. James, where she has made many fine friends through Tai Chi and other day-to-day activities. Jennie always believed she had been blessed with a happy life. She and Ted had a very active social life in Saskatoon, which included curling, golfing, bowling, and socializing with friends. When the children were young, holidays were spent at Grand Marais, Clear Lake, or Waskesieu. Later they enjoyed camping with their Boler, making trips to the Rockies, as well as other parts of Canada and the United States. When they retired, Jennie and Ted travelled to Great Britain, and spent part of each winter in either St. Petersburg Beach, Florida or in Qualicum Beach, BC. Jennie and Ted had a loving marriage that lasted for over 60 years. When Ted died on January 25, 2001, Jennie said that her life was over. It was not. She picked up the pieces of her broken heart and learned to live independently. She was still able to travel on her own to visit family until she broke her leg in May of 2005. After a lengthy stay in Deer Lodge Centre and a courageous fight, she managed to return home until she broke her hip in August of 2006. Jennie was predeceased by her father in 1958, her mother in 1968, her infant brother John in 1917, her brother Robert in 1963, her sister Helen Preiss in 1992 (brother-in-law Len Preiss in 1997), and her brother Alex in 2005. She will be lovingly remembered by her three children: Marion Widlake of Winnipeg, Lorraine Schiedel of Toronto (Ron of London, ON) and Ted Widlake (Carolyn Pietrangeli) of Grimsby, ON, as well as her three grandchildren, Paul (Melissa) Schiedel of Strathroy, ON, Susan (Dwayne) Schiedel of London, ON, Pamela (Gary) Lima of London, ON, and her six great-grandchildren: Sarah Beadle, Tyler Schiedel, Emily Beadle, Jillian Schiedel, Anthony Lima and Julianna Lima. She will be sadly missed by her extended family: her brother Jim (Joyce) Rennie of Transcona, her sister-in-law Bernice Rennie in Sherwood Park, as well as many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her cousins, Nan and Eileen and their families in Stirling, Scotland. First and foremost Jennie was a wife, a mother and a homemaker. She taught her children well, and lived to watch them flourish. Her longevity can be attributed to the fullness of her life and the love that surrounded her. She leaves us with a legacy of fond memories to sustain us in our grief at her passing. The family wishes to thank the staff at Grace Hospital, at Deer Lodge Centre and at Oakview Place, as well as the many Home Care Workers for their exceptional care and gentleness toward Jennie and her family as she embarked on her final journey. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of her life will be held this weekend in London, ON, for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A private interment and reception for family and friends will take place in May at Glen Eden. Flowers are gratefully declined, but if you wish, donations may be made to Grace Hospital, Deer Lodge Centre, Oakview Place, or the Osteoporosis Society of Manitoba. If Mothers and Grandmothers were flowers, you'd be the one we'd pick. Arrangements entrusted to: Glen Eden Funeral Home 4477 Main St. 338-7111

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 17, 2007