Freda JENKINS

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JENKINS: Freda Patricia Adams Jenkins passed away at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on June 21, 2014. Pat was born in Liberal Kansas December 17, 1934. Pat’s family moved to California when she was 18 months old and settled in the District of Los Angeles—living first at Huntington Park, then Downey, and finally in Sunland where Pat attended Junior High and High School. Her half-sister Betty was seven years older, and her brother Richard was six years younger, than she. As a small child, Pat committed her life to be “a sunbeam for Jesus”. At age 13, she was immersed as a Baptist believer along with both her parents, who were also joining First Baptist Church of Sunland. As a young person, Pat had jobs in line with her future profession as an OT, including an assignment in suicide prevention as a live-in companion. She was also active in Baptist youth work in southern California as one of the executive of Guild Girls. Pat’s early grades were spent in Downey, CA, and from grades 7-12, in Sunland. Pat took her first year of university at LA City College and then enrolled in the University of Southern California, graduating in 1956 with her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. After university and her OT internship she enrolled in Berkeley Baptist Divinity School in the Bay Area of California in 1957, and graduated with her Master of Religious Education degree in 1959. It was there she met her future husband, Brian, a native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They were married on May 30, 1959 in the First Baptist Church of Sunland, California by the Rev. John Lane. After her husband finished his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1960, during which time Pat gave birth to daughter Kathy, they moved up to Calgary where his mother and his sister and her family lived. Pat was then a pastor’s wife from 1960-1968, first at the Bowness Baptist Church in the Calgary area and then at the Birtle and Shoal Lake Baptist Churches in Manitoba. Daughter Karen was born in Calgary in 1962. In 1968, the family moved to Brandon where Pat began her career as an Occupational Therapist at the old Assiniboine Hospital, which then continued at the new Assiniboine Centre in 1974. November 15, 1974, Pat proudly received her Canadian Citizenship at the Courthouse in Brandon. In 1986 Pat battled ovarian cancer, detected during a surgery, and became a cancer survivor. In 1988 she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, which was successfully controlled all through the years. Pat served as an OT for thirty years, retiring in 1998 after being fitted with a coronary stent to ease her angina problem. During retirement Pat helped at Samaritan House for two years in the teaching of English as a second language, until the program ended. Pat was active in FBC, Brandon, for many years, serving on boards, especially in Christian Education and teaching five year olds in the Church School for thirty years. She served as Sunday School Superintendent for a couple of years as well. She also sang alto in the choir for years. Pat was one of the most eager supporters of the move of the congregation of FBC to the Waverley Park area of the city, walking around that neighbourhood handing out promotion literature for the new church. Pat loved reading, and various hand crafts, especially cross-stitch, knitting and crocheting. When her children were young she did a lot of sewing as well. For many years she was an avid stamp and coin collector. Pat was very close to her four grandchildren, Brian, Krista, Tammy, and Michael, and went on outings (“Saturday Walks”) with each one in turn, just her Grandma Adams had done with her and her brother Richard. She also loved to walk downtown with her husband Brian and browse at the Lighthouse Book Store and at various stores in the Town Centre. In 2006 Pat began to suffer from vascular dementia and gradual memory loss. After four hospitalizations from 2009-2010 she became a shut-in, cared for by her loving husband and helped also by her extended family. She was able to joyfully share in all the family celebrations as well as in the wedding of her granddaughter Krista in 2011. In 2013 Pat had the joy of holding our first great grandchild, Lilia Grace Antonio, in her lap and observing how bright a baby she was at 15 days! On January 7, 2014, she was admitted to the BRHC after an ambulance ride to EMERGENCY. After five and one half months of earnest prayers and visits by her family and friends--and despite the earnest efforts of the Hospital staff—she died peacefully at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, in Palliative Care.The family are grateful to Dr. Deong and all the other staff on 400, and in the CGP, and on A-2 and A-3. One observer on 400 shared her impression of Pat—that she seemed to have “an angelic radiance” about her and a beauty that you couldn’t take your eyes off. The person thoughtfully shared that insight with Pat’s husband, which was a great encouragement to him. Pat’s family and friends are going to miss her terribly. Pat is survived by husband Brian; daughter Kathy; daughter Karen and her husband Tom Wenham; grandson Brian Mark; granddaughter Krista and her husband Josiah Antonio and their baby daughter Lilia; granddaughter Tammy; and grandson Michael; also by her brother Richard in Chicago; and by her niece Chrystie in Calgary. Pat was predeceased by: her parents Frank and Freda Adams and her half-sister Betty; by her grandparents and various aunts and uncles and by her mother-in-law Kathleen Jenkins and her sister-in-law Lynette Halliday. A private funeral ceremony was held with interment in the Brandon cemetery. Pallbearers were: Michael Wenham, Brian Wenham, Josiah Antonio, Tom Wenham. Honorary pallbearer was Phillip Emmerson. Friends who wish may make a donation in memory of Pat to The Heart and Stroke Foundation, #3, 824 18th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 5B7. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 204-727-0330."JESUS WANTS ME FOR A SUNBEAM TO SHINE FOR HIM EACH DAY...." She did!

As published in Brandon Sun on Jul 12, 2014