Jennifer Elizabeth Lachner

Jen went to Tara Church of England Girls School and when she left high school she attended Metropolitan Business College. One of Jen’s first job was for 2GB a radio station in Sydney, Australia. There she met lifelong friend Gail Rawson. Between the age of 20 and 28 Jen moved up the business management ladder always refining her skillset of office management, loyalty to her employer and dedication to the task at hand.

In 1990, at the age of 28 Jen decided to travel the world, she visited London, cruised the south pacific with her friend Stephanie, but wanted to visit Canada. Jen decided that it would be a great adventure to do a working holiday, and so applied for a position as an Opare (Nanny) for a family in Vancouver. Within about a year, Jen was very home sick and so returned to Australia.

In Australia she secured a job at a Health Retreat up the central coast of Australia. Here Jen was office manager and Jack/Jill of all trades. There was nothing that Jen could not do when she set her mind to a task, from fixing fences, to running the office, to setting up various conferences for the Health Retreat. She loves her life up the central coast, but something was pulling her back to Canada.

In 1993, Jen set off again for Canada continuing to take up working as an Opare but now knowing what she wanted and that was to use her office skills. During this return to Canada Jen met Grant Klein. They dated and in an amazingly short time after first meeting, Grant asked Jen to marry him. In 1994, Grant and Jen were married. Grant had children Shannon, Heather, and Garrett. Grant and Jen set up their very busy lives with shared custody of the children during holidays, making their house a home.

In 2001, tragedy struck, and Grant passed away from Cancer. Jen was devastated but she remained here in Canada. Jen was to become a Canadian citizen as she loved this country deeply. Jen focused on forging out her career in financial industry including Edward Jones before joining RBC Dominion Security.

Around 2008, while forging a life in Canada, and the occasional trip back to Australia, Jen was invited to a Smith family wedding here in Canada. This is where she met Douglas Lachner. Doug was Grant’s brother Don’s best friend, and before long Doug and Jen started to date, and fell in love. Jen joined Doug’s family with son Neil, daughter Yvette, and their families. Doug and Jen set up a home at Cedar Springs with Jen’s beloved dog Tiara. Before moving to their condo with their dog Bosley.

Jen continued to forge her career at RBC Dominion Securities passing her financial exams and later securing a position as Branch Operations Manager. While working for the company Jen held many positions on their board across Canada, and recently won the Global Community Engagement 2021, and Top Performance 2022. In January 2023, Jen was invited by RBC Dominion Securities to cruise the Caribbean with her husband Doug. On this cruise Jen was presented with the highest award employees of the company received, only the top 1% of the top 1% employees receive, the Leo Award. The Leo award was without a doubt the highlight of Jen’s career.

In her private life with Doug, Jen loved her baby dog Bosley (Boz), a Boston Terrier. Doug and Jen enjoyed touring the world travelling back to Australia, visiting Mexico twice, Alaska twice, Hawaii twice and the Caribbean. Jen was an avid photographer and for family created the most breath-taking calendars of her photographic work. Jen love decorating her home, shopping and being with family. She could sew, and was always kept busy sewing back on ears, nose, or tails on all of Bosley’s toys.

By far Jen’s greatest love was that of family, and she was blessed with abundance.

Back in Australia she is survived by her dad and mum Rob and Betsy, sister Gail and husband Garry with children Colin, Sarah, son-in-law Chris and daughter-in-law Jasmine, grandsons William and Greyson. Brother Greg and wife Angela with children Jessica, Lydia, Sam, and daughter-in-law Tara.

Here in Canada, she is blessed with Grant’s children Shannon and husband Rob with children Kyra and Zaden; Heather and husband Mike with children Emily, Lou, and Alyssa; Garrett and partner Megan with children Connor and Arabella.

Doug’s children Neil and wife Suzanne with children Brendon and Sean; Yvette and husband Don with children Michael, and Joshua and wife Tamara, and great grandma of Emersyn and Haidyn.

Rest in Peace Jen, we send all our love to you, now and forever.