Jitje (Jessie) Feenstra

Surrounded by love and in the presence of family, Jikke (Jessie) Feenstra (nee vanderVeen) passed away on November 29, 2019 at DeSalaberry Health Centre at the age of 89. Mom was born the oldest of 5 children in the town of Westerguest, Netherlands on April 2, 1930. She married Hylke Feenstra in November of 1949 and in 1952, she and Dad decided to emigrate to Canada. They arrived in Halifax with two small children on July 1 of that year and shortly thereafter made their way to Manitoba, where they remained. After a fair amount of moving around, they finally settled in Vita. Among other things, mom worked in the kitchen of the Vita Personal Care Home, babysat for young families in the community, and after retirement became a live in caregiver with Community Living in St Pierre. In 1994, mom and dad retired to Dufrost, and after dad’s passing mom moved to the Manoir in St Pierre. Mom was a gentle, caring spirit who would put others needs above her own and made lots of friends wherever she went; she also had a very strong faith that got her through some trying times, and she did her best to instill these things in her children and grandchildren. Although she couldn’t often sit long enough to read, mom enjoyed a good book but could usually be found with some type of knitting or crochet project in her hands instead. She was very proud of her work and of the awards she received each year at the Morris Stampede or the Ag Fair in St Pierre. Mom is survived by her children George (Barbara), Eva, Betty (Alex), Rita (Garry), Gary (Connie), Rick (Suzanne), Robert (Josie), and Kim (Taras); grandchildren Steven (Charlene), Karen, Michael (Lori), Jennifer (Robert) Mark, Kris, Vincent, Ryan (Melanie) Sarah, Michael (Lindsay), Amanda, (Dave), Brent (Larissa), Heath ( Faith), Reed, Marcel (Monica), Clayton, Jordan (Leila), Ashley (Marc), Jessica (Robert), Corey ( Ashley), Kendra (Brendan), and Kurtis(Hayley); great-grandchildren Brett, Kyle, Jordan, Chloe, Zachary, Matthew, Emma, Malcolm, Bryn, Aiden, Benjamin, Emersyn, Sawyer, Paxton and Sydney. She is also survived by one brother, Klaas (Norma), one sister, Hetty, and sister-in-law Linda, daughter-in-law Cindy, and their families, as well as nieces and nephews in Friesland. Mom was predeceased by her husband Hylke, her parents, parents-in-law, sons Rudy and Maynard, son-in-law Jim, great-granddaughter Jewel, brother Rudy, sister Hinke, brothers-in-law Thys, John, and Klaas, and sisters-in-law Akke and Marcia. The family would like to thank all of the staff at DeSaleberry Health Centre for the care and compassion they provided over the last 19 months, as well as all those that came to visit and kept Mom in their thoughts and prayers. It is appreciated more than words could ever express. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 11:00 am at Transcona Christian Reformed Church, with a public viewing taking place half an hour prior. A private family Burial with follow at Green Acres Cemetery.