Obituary of Tena Enns

Tena was the eldest child of Martin Klaas Janzen and Annie Janzen (nee Siemens). Born on June 8^th, 1932 at their home near Lethbridge AB. Mom’s parents were young immigrants from Russia and met on the ship bringing them to Quebec City.

Martin Janzen raised laying hens which provided income for the family and the early years were spent on the farm with the family. The young family had few possessions; a couple of dolls and a tea set were the main toys.

Low German was spoken at home so when Tena started school at the age of seven she didn’t know English. For the first couple of years Mom walked 2.5 miles too Hyssop elementary school and when Mom’s younger sister Elsie started school the two of them rode a Shetland pony to school.  

Mom attended Sunday school regularly and with the help of Miss Martens her Sunday school teacher in 1941 at the age of nine Tena accepted Jesus into her heart as her Lord and Saviour. John 3:16 became a treasured verse for Mom. In 1950, both Tena and Elsie were baptized in the dugout at the Coaldale MB Church and joined the church.

After graduating Hardieville High School, Tena attend one year of Bible School at Coaldale Bible School. In 1951, along with girlfriend Annie Loewen Mom enrolled in a three year nursing program at Galt Hospital in Lethbridge, AB. In May of 1954, Tena graduated as an RN and after working one year at the Lethbridge Municipal Hospital Tena moved to Steinbach, MB. On September 15, 1955 Tena started work at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre, Steinbach, MB.

Tena transferred her church membership to the Steinbach MB church and soon after met the love of her life Jacob M.Enns. Tena and Jacob dated and in September 1956 they drove out to Lethbridge to see Tena’s parents and got engaged. Nine months later on June 2, 1957 they got married in the Coadale M.B Church. They lived in Steinbach on Hospital Street for the first number of years. In 1963, they moved one mile south of Steinbach, which would be the family home for the next 25 years. Mom had a distinguished career as a RN at Bethesda serving as Head Nurse, Nursing coordinator of Emergency and volunteering for ambulance service. Mom kept up with her profession earning post graduate diplomas for additional courses. On January 17^th, 1992 Tena retired from nursing.

Tena was involved in the church with Ladies groups, church decorating, the library and serving meals. Mom had a wide array of activities she loved which included; gardening, baking, painting swimming and photography. Mom kept comprehensive notes and diaries on trips and family history. Together Mom and Dad spent part of their retirement traveling and taking many trips to see friends and family members across Canada and as far as Australia.

Mom summed up her professional career this way, “Nursing is a caring and demanding profession. I had many opportunities to care for injured, ill and dying patients. Strength to do this came from God.”

Mom summed up her own life this way, “The Lord has been good to me. I thank God for parents who taught me the Christian Way. I also thank God for a Godly Husband and children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I pray that the love of God will shine through me.”

In Mom’s later years Dad spent much of his time caring and looking after Mom’s needs and in the final months we thank the staff at Vita Hospital for the care they provided Mom.

Mom is survived by her children: Robert, Dianne (Adnum), Karen (Bencharski), Garry Bencharski (son-in-law), Richard, Linda; and Sister Nellie Heier, Peter Heier (brother-in-law) and Brother Robert Janzen. Mom also leaves behind five grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

Mom was predeceased by her loving husband Jacob Martin Enns, sisters: Elsie Regier and Sue Esser.

A come and go viewing for 10 people at a time will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB. Please wait in your vehicles until further instructed by the Funeral Director.

A private livestreamed family service will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB., with Interment to follow at Heritage Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Tena may be made to the Bethesda Foundation, Unit 3-380 Stone Bridge Crossing, Steinbach, MB R5G 2R1.