Jean Hendrickson

Jean Hendrickson

Passed on April 10, 2019

May 18, 1930 – April 10, 2019 Jean Frances Hendrickson (born Jennie Sklepowych) was born at home on May 18, 1930. Her parents, Rose Negrych and Nykola Sklepowich, were Ukrainian immigrants. Her mother came to Canada as a child with her family, her father immigrated alone as a young man. They met, married, and farmed in the Venlaw area near Gilbert Plains, Manitoba. Jean was a twin, but her sister did not survive the birth, and Jean forever felt something was missing in her life. She had three older brothers and five older sisters, all of whom predeceased her, and a younger sister, Zita, who survives her. Jean is survived by her six daughters, Barbara, Kathy (Allan), Susan (Terry), Lorna, Karla, and Jennifer (Gord), and her son Henry; and her grandchildren Anthony (Lorraine) Hendrickson; Jonas, Aaron, and Kieran Hendrickson-Gracie; Jane, Thor, and Hanna Hendrickson-Rebizant; Kristin Hendrickson; Nick and Claire Pankiw; Adam, Matthew and Peter Revel; and Luke Hendrickson. Jean is also survived by her sister-in-law Bernice and many much loved nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Jean lived on her family’s farm near Gilbert Plains, excelling in school, playing ball, and making lifelong friends, until her mother’s death in 1948. She moved with her brothers and sisters to Winnipeg and had many stories about life on Young Street. She started grade 12 at United College, but decided instead to teach on permit at Oatfield, a one room school near Eriksdale. Jean loved that year in Oatfield and believed her year there helped her get through the grief of her mother’s death and to grow up. She returned to Winnipeg to finish high school at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate, then went to teach, again on permit, at Cossette School in Inwood. There she would meet Wallace Hendrickson, a handsome and slightly wild young Swede, who most likely literally swept her off her feet. After a year in Normal School to train as a teacher (class of ’52), Jean taught for a year at St. Daniel School near Carman. Jean married Wallace on July 4, 1953 and taught for two years at Pembina Crest School in Winnipeg before she and Wallace, with baby Barbara, moved to Wekusko for a northern adventure. Five years later they returned to Winnipeg, now with four little girls, and lived in the house at 736 Warsaw Avenue. The next move, but not before two more girls joined the family, was on January 1, 1967, to a farm near Narcisse. Henry was born after this move, and Jean and Wallace would live out their days on the farm. There were years of hard work on and off the farm, (Jean returned to teach in Inwood) and watching her children grow up, her daughters move away, and her son take over the farm. Jean lived through the most exciting of times. This world has changed so much over the past nine decades. Jean was always learning, whether in classes, reading, watching television, and listening to the radio, or from the people who graced her life. She was interested in all world issues, politics and in most sports, and she had an opinion on everything. Jean loved a good joke and always had a joke to share. She loved her garden and her flowers. She loved meeting new people and her Jean’s home was always a welcoming place. The coffee was always strong, the food was always delicious, the company and conversation were always good. Rarely did a day pass without someone stopping by for business or pleasure. Our mother was smart and strong and determined and hard working. She was kind and supportive and loyal. She was proud of her family, of her home, of her life. She had lifelong friends but made new friendships quickly and easily. She was a cherished teacher to so many children. She was a special daughter, and a loving sister and a wonderful friend. She had a long, successful marriage and worked side by side with our dad, before he passed away in 2016. She was a really good person. And mostly, to us, her seven children, she was a wonderful mother. Our mother had a full and blessed life. We like to think that our mother died peacefully and satisfied, without any great regrets. She was a woman of great faith and was not afraid to die, but she loved the life she lived. Lorna and Kristin were with her as she left this Earth. Our lives will never be the same, but we are so blessed to have had her for as long as we did. We will hold her dearly in our hearts. A family memorial will be held at a later date. Memorial donations, if desired, can be made to the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Inwood, Manitoba; or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.


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