Jennie Wolanin

Jennie Wolanin was born in Beausejour, Manitoba on April 23, 1933, to Minnie and Harry Rycar. Her parents were merchants in Beausejour, Manitoba and owned and operated a general store on Park Avenue.

In her high school years, she met Chuck Wolanin whom she married on June 16, 1951. Together they had three children: Catherine, Linda and David.

Chuck became the local barber in town and Jennie worked for many years at the Beausejour Clinic. They were both involved in town activities and volunteering and Jennie was part of the curling club for many years. They made many friends through the years and Mom continued to meet new friends after Chuck passed away at 66 years of age in March of 1997.

One of Jennie’s lifelong pastimes was painting and over the years many of her paintings adorned the walls of her home as well as homes of her friends and family. Jennie was a member of the Seniors Club in Beausejour and loved to play cribbage. She was also a member of the square dancing group the Beausejour Swinging Squares.

Jennie was a devout Catholic and was strongly attached to the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic church in Beausejour. She volunteered at the Holy Family Personal Care Home in Winnipeg, making the drive there for over 21 years.

After her working years and after Chuck’s passing she visited her two daughters frequently. She went to Linda’s home in Italy five times. Linda took her on tours all over Italy, although she loved being at Linda’s home in the Veneto countryside best!

She went to Cathy’s home in Victoria, BC many times to visit Cathy and John and their children: Bryan and Leanne, Kristin and David and grandkids Benjamin, Carson and Jenny. She was very proud to teach them how to make perogies one Christmas which they have continued to do in her honor.

Baba was also very happy when David, Alexandra and Amarie came to visit her in Beausejour. She always had a meal waiting and the guiding hand of her wisdom to offer to them when they were there. She loved all her families.

Jennie was a very friendly and sociable person. She loved to meet people and could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. More than once we picked her up from the airport from her travels and she would be chatting with fellow passengers and even saying goodbyes to the pilot and the crew!

Jennie was very proud of her faith and her family and she will now be very happy with God. We are sure she will make as great an impression there as she did here. She was a strong and loving person and we will all miss her presence.

Jennie’s surviving family includes her children Catherine Rowan (John), Linda Hemminger (Anselmo Sponchiado), David Wolanin (Patty Sanders) and grandchildren Bryan Rowan (Leanne), Kristin Glabais (David), and Alexandra Chesley and great grandchildren Benjamin, Carson, Jenny Rowan and Amarie Chesley Fitzgerald.

Jennie’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., at Sobering Funeral Chapel; 1035 Park Avenue E., Beausejour, MB. 

Memorial donations may be made to the Beausejour Brokenhead Community Fund.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com