Obituary of Jeanette Born Penner)

Jeanette passed peacefully on the evening of September 16, 2020, in Calgary, Alberta. Her memory and loving legacy remains alive through her husband Walter Born, the children, their partners and grandchildren—Dwayne and Shauna Penner (Charlie), Gaylene and Barry Turner (Iliana and Sophie), Mark and Jennie Born (Natasha, Erika, and Aaron), Mike and Lynn Born (Brandon, Conner and Sydney), Alan Born and Corinne McDonald (Isabel, Liam and Noah). She is also lovingly remembered by her siblings and their spouses—Lorraine and Richard Pahl, Albert and Martha Viste, Sharon Viste-King and Norm King, Esther and Bill Nelles, as well as many nieces and nephews. Jeanette was born on March 20, 1947, in Hanna Hospital—the fourth of five kids to Gilman and Marguerite Viste. Farming in the Craigmyle area while recovering from World War II rationing meant not much disposable income and all four sisters shared one bedroom. Jeanette’s love of sewing may have started with her mother making and dressing all of the girls in matching clothes: pink coats, fancy yellow outfits, navy dresses with lace tops, etc. The Viste siblings appeared well behaved, quiet, and introverted (mostly true), but not when they got together through the years. When the family moved to Calgary in the fifties, and Jeanette was in high school, she lived with and helped care for her granny Peterson. Upon returning to Hanna she worked at, and at times managed, the local dairy bar. Jeanette showed her ability to be responsible and still fun… there were trampolines out back of the restaurant that got used when she was in charge. Jeanette learned a bit of violin and occasionally played in the church orchestra. She obtained her teaching certificate while living with her sister Sharon. At her first teaching position at Collingwood School a fellow teacher, John Penner, caught her attention. Jeanette’s strong work ethic was evident as she completed her B.Ed. (U of C), at first while teaching, and then while mothering two children. In 1968, Jeanette married John (1935-1987), and embraced his sisters Erna and Agnes as hers. Together they raised two children. They built their faith and nurtured deep relationships with family and a network of friends that became like an extended family. They loved acreage life, camping (and puffed wheat squares) in the mountains and by lakes, large dinners with family and friends, and pancake suppers after tobogganing. Her talents and creativity manifested in many ways—whether she was making matching family shirts, coats, dresses, quilts, teddy bears and costumes; or fixing things, mostly with a hammer and brute force. No Christmas was complete without her whipped shortbread and jam-jam cookies. The observation has been made that Jesus had better have lots of craft and quilting supplies in heaven. She volunteered by reading to kids on the Morley reserve and took business administration at Bow Valley College, which lead to a job at a travel agency and became the gateway to her travel addiction. Through the years Jeanette’s ability to find a way to not just accept, but love all of the people around her made a big impression on her kids. Because of her example, her kids are not quite the rascals they could have been. When Jeanette became a grandma it was like seeing a flower fully bloom—everyone could see and enjoy the delight she had for her grandkids. In 1994, Jeanette married Walter Born, who had also been widowed. Together they enjoyed almost 26 years of companionship, creating memories, traveling the world and nurturing twelve grandchildren. Every one of the grandchildren has been treasured and cradled in grandma’s comforting arms; she gave the best hugs! The fondest memories of the grandkids are sleepovers, story-times, camper van adventures, baking and making elaborate crafts with grandma. Her hand-sewn costumes, quilts, pyjamas and pillowcases remain family treasures. Her cookbook and home-cooked meals and baking are legendary. Everyone has their favourite cookies, and the family may forever remain divided into the shortbread and jam-jam factions. Jeanette was a source of strength, wit and wisdom to her family. She was gentle, generous, resourceful, and patient. She was a master puzzler: both with jigsaws, and with bringing our family together to make a beautiful whole. Jeanette is pre-deceased by John Penner (husband) and Gilman and Marguerite Viste (parents). Due to COVID restrictions attendance at the memorial is limited to immediate family only, but please join the live streamed or recorded memorial service available on October 10, 11am or later found at https://tv.cochranealliance.com/ In lieu of flowers please consider the following charities: http://www.agapehospice.ca/ahfunding.html http://seniorsforkids.ca/