Born in Edmonton, Alberta on August 10, 1984, Jenn passed away unexpectedly on June 14, 2020.  Jenn had an extremely close relationship with her family and will be missed not only by her parents, Leaha and Brian Bednar, and her step-brother Chase Bednar, but also by her aunts, Sofia Oleksyn (Danny), Christine Mihailedes (Peter Ruptash) and Kathee Mihailedes.  In her youth, Jennifer was often mistaken as sister to her cousins, Pam Culligan, Stephanie Oleksyn and Andrea Palichuk.  She was 'Auntie Jenn' to their children, Taylor, Ethan, Faith, Hannah and Olivia, and will be missed terribly by them.  Jenn always considered Omar Gritton to be her 'person' and had a very special love for him.  She will perhaps be missed most of all by her beloved dog Tzatziki.  She is predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Patricia and George Mihailedes, and her Uncle Danny Oleksyn.      

Jennifer lived with her mother Leaha in Edmonton until they moved to Calgary when she was 9. Leaha and Brian married the following year and he became a central force in Jenn's life.  He was her father in all ways that matter.  Calgary remained home for Jennifer where she was a longtime employee of Shaw Communications. 

Jenn had dear friends in Nova Scotia and loved to visit each year to celebrate her birthday, a monumental day for Jenn.  She loved the people and more relaxed lifestyle and dreamed of building a life in Nova Scotia.  Jennifer finally realized her dream this past February when she was able to relocate to Nova Scotia.  At the time of her passing, Jenn was living with her best friend Maeghan and her husband Shawn in Truro, Nova Scotia, and working in the offices of VON.  

Jenn had a generosity of spirit and love for life that made her easy to know.  Both at work and in her personal life, she was someone that you could talk to and who you could count on not to judge.  She appreciated a simplicity that kept her grounded and in all things cared about those around her.  She was an incredible daughter, niece, cousin, aunt and friend.

On June 14, 2020, Jenn didn't wake up in the morning, having passed sometime in the night.  She spent the day before fishing with her good friend Dan, one of her absolute favourite things to do.  The exact cause of death is not known at this time.  In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in her honour to the Calgary Humane Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Jennifer's friends and family are spread from one end of the country to the other.  It is our intention to have a celebration of Jenn's life once the pandemic restrictions are lifted.  In the meantime, we ask that you help us honour her and use this page to share your stories, photos, and memories of Jenn.  Who Jenn was as a person and the incredible impact that she had on our worlds will not be forgotten.