Adina Penner passed away peacefully on July 3, 2022, at the age of 91 years. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Beny in 2006. They shared a life together for 55 years.

Adina will be forever remembered by her children, Judi (Wes), Joyce (Paul), James, Janice (Dennis) and Julie (George); her grandchildren, Luke (Janice), Levi (Kim), Matthew, Morgan (Julian), Kristin (John) and Tyrel; her great-grandchildren, Judah, Sage, Taliah, Tekoa, Ezrae, Jessica, McKenzie and Allie. She will also be dearly missed by her surviving siblings, Annie, Mary, Laura, Ben (Marina) and Abe (Marion); as well as her entire Wiebe and Penner extended family.

Adina lived a life full of adventure. She made homes for her family across five provinces and one territory. She was comfortable in a Model A or mushing a dog team. She did white-water rafting, has flown in a helicopter and a hot air balloon. She was an avid fisherwoman and could fillet a fish in 10 seconds flat – no bones! She was a marksman and could handle a rifle. In her later years she was a master of ‘Duck Hunt’ – even getting a diagnosis of trigger thumb.

Adina loved growing things, interesting house plants as well as big vegetable gardens. She loved adventurous cooking and was able to provide meals for an entire construction camp, cooking on a wood stove. Wild meat became tender and delicious, enjoyed by all – even the game warden consuming unlicensed moose. We called it beef. Adina also took pleasure in discovering how to cook and present exotic foods. While living in remote communities, she made friends with many people including charter pilots. They would bring her fresh produce and then stick around to enjoy her company, including her cheating at cards.

She was an accomplished seamstress, keeping her children in fine clothes, as well as sewing wedding dresses for others. After surviving polio and the birth of four kids, this amazing woman earned a Certificate of Home Nursing!

Adina was fluent in three languages. Her preference for disciplining children was Plaut Deutsch. She loved learning and working. She was a qualified Post Mistress, balancing ledgers well before computers, and also worked as a telephone operator in her younger years. She was an excellent manager and very knowledgeable about health and nutrition.

She made no distinction of status or ethnicity. She was comfortable sharing a meal with anyone, including having breakfast with a prime minister and his wife. She was a poet, an artist and loved music. We remember her singing ‘Can’t Take a Picture with a Kid on Your Back’ at the top of her lungs, driving five kids around!

Her children appreciated all the joy and laughter she brought to their lives – humour, adventure and craziness. She continued that with her grandchildren, always having fun.

Adina served God and her church with all her heart. She touched the lives of countless children through her ministry, starting children ministries in various denominations wherever she lived. She loved the scripture and was gifted in intercessory prayer. Adina will be dearly missed. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at Laurel Heights for their compassion and care shown to Adina.

A private family gathering to celebrate Adina’s life has taken place.