ASA JENNINGS (BENJAMINSON)

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ASA JENNINGS (nee BENJAMINSON) The family of Asgerdur Sigridur Olafia (Asa) Jennings is deeply saddened to announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and sister at the age of 97. Born in Iceland, she was the oldest child of Benjamin and Helga Benjaminson, who came to Canada in 1920 to join relatives and build a better life for their own growing family. Asa was extremely proud of her Icelandic heritage and always regretted never returning to her birthplace. Mother spent her early years attending schools in the Lundar area then came to Winnipeg to attend high school and train as a hairdresser. Introduced to Samuel Jennings by his niece, they married and she joined and supported him as the Manager of Parkdale Dairy Farms (Parrish Farms) in West St. Paul, Manitoba. On his retirement and passing, she became a single working mother, unconditionally devoted to her teenage children. She indulged her passion for beautiful things through her work at Johnson Hutchinson and Breslauer and Warren Jewellers on Portage Avenue in the 1960s and 1970s. On retirement, she became totally involved in the lives of her grandchildren as their greatest source of support and encouragement and celebrated their every achievement with love and pride. Our mother had a great sense of personal style and was an avid reader, gardener and ardent Blue Jays fan. Famous in our family for her fancy sandwiches, vinarterta and fabulous pastry, we all have samples of her beautiful and intricate knitting, crochet and embroidery with which to cherish her memory. She lived a quiet life in later years but treasured her independence and self-sufficiency until her recent illness. Always a lover of nature, she passed her final days enjoying the changing season and wildlife on the river. Predeceased by husband Samuel, siblings Gunnlauger (Ben), Kristine, Andres, Thora, Hjortur, Margaret, Hallur, Inga. Survived by son Allan (Allison) of Nanaimo, daughter Jocelyn (Luis Oppenheimer) of Winnipeg, grandchildren Ryan (Winnipeg), Brendan (Brandon), Mark (Halifax), Maya (London, UK), and youngest brother Numi (Meleb, MB.) The family is deeply thankful to the nurses and doctors of the E.R. and C.C.U., Health Sciences Centre; Dr. Marissa Kosowan; Mark Shepherd, Palliative Care Coordinator and nurses Louise, Shannon, Marianne, Chris and Anne for their care and compassion. A special thank you to her Health Care Aide Maggie and Pastor Ingthor Isfeld. In accordance with our mother's wishes, cremation has taken place, and a private family farewell will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Logberg Heimskringla (Icelandic Weekly), 100 - 283 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2B5 or to the Assiniboine Park Conservancy, 55 Pavilion Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N6. What we have deeply loved, we can never loose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us. NEIL BARDAL INC. FUNERAL CENTRE (204) 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 26, 2010