Obituary of Jenifer May Streiling
Dec 9, 1929 – Aug 16, 2024
It is with profound sadness the family of Jenifer Streiling announce her passing at “The Residence In Mission” in the early morning of Aug 16th, 2024, after a long battle with dementia. Now free of the pain and limitations of her earthly life, she has gone to greet the life here-after.
Born in the small Saskatchewan town of Elfros at the beginning of the Great Depression, Jenifer had a happy childhood with loving parents and her older brother. In her midteens she moved with her family to B.C where her teacher father found work in the aboriginal school at Port Essington in Northern B.C. They only stayed a few months as T.B. was widespread and was especially dangerous for her dad who only had one working lung. Back in the Lower Mainland, Jenifer’s parents rented various homes in Vancouver, Surrey and New Westminster, eventually they bought a house in New Westminster. While living there, Jenifer finished grade 12 and a year of teachers college. Deciding a career in teaching was not for her, she went to work in a bank, and it was on her way to that job that she met her future husband Joe Streiling. He walked by her house on his way to catch the same bus as Jenifer, one day he asked if he could walk with her, soon they were sitting together, dating followed and on Oct 15th, 1951, began a marriage lasting just short of seventy years. They truly were a perfect match. After renting various homes around the Lower Mainland, they bought their first home on Gilley Ave. in South Burnaby.
While living in that home Jenifer gave birth to three sons: Don in 1954, Colin in 1958 and Ken in 1960. Along with raising three boys, Jenifer also took in foster children needing a temporary home and volunteered at a church run daycare. She was always active in her church, first All-Saints Anglican in South Burnaby, then St. Albans in East Burnaby, and finally Holy Spirit Anglican in Maple Ridge. In June 1967 Jenifer and Joe bought a lot in East Burnaby, and over the next year Joe built a house, doing all the carpentry work himself. On May 28, 1968, Jenifer and family moved into their second home, where they lived until buying an apartment in Maple Ridge in 2013. After Joe passed away in 2020, Jenifer moved into long term care at “The Residence In Mission” where she has lived ever since. Over the years Jenifer hosted innumerable birthday celebrations, Christmas dinner, baking countless cakes, pies and cookies for her family and hundreds of Sunday Dinners.
Jenifer was open minded and inquisitive, compassionate and caring and her departure from this life will leave a large hole in our hearts and we who knew her are better off for that relationship. Jenifer had a life well lived.
Predeceased by brother Bruce and Grandson Sheldon. Jenifer leaves behind sons: Don (Trudy), Colin (Laurie), Ken (Viviana) Grandchildren: Bruce, Anna, Kim (Andrew), Ashton, Nicolette (Lucas), Natasha, and great grandchildren: Nolan, Kayden, Matthew, Dakota, Kinsley and Eloise.
A celebration of life will be held Sat Sept 7 at 11AM at Holy Spirit Anglican Church, 27123 River Rd, Maple Ridge, Reception to Follow.