Silke (Jansen) Blaine passed away peacefully with family by her side on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at the Riverview Health Center in Winnipeg after an immense battle with brain cancer - Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM).  She is survived by her husband Doug Blaine, her children Melissa (Dillon Boulanger) and Travis, as well as her father Fred Jansen (Edna McKinnon), sister Heike Jansen Doerksen (Don Edwards) and brother Uwe Jansen (Heather), brother-in-law, Gord Blaine (Cindy Bolduc), sister-in-law Karen Yagnesak (Dave) and father-in-law, Hans Pintea. Silke also leaves to mourn her beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Helga (Cassing) Jansen, mother-in-law Shirley Pintea (Blaine, Merrett) and father-in-law, Donald Blaine.

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Silke was born in Bochum-Gerthe, Germany on September 22, 1965. In June of 1967, the family moved to Winnipeg where she graduated from John Taylor Collegiate in 1983, and subsequently received a BA from the University of Manitoba, and found her passion for nursing by receiving her RN designation in 1992.

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She married Doug in May of 1993 and began working with the Victoria Order of Nurses (the VON) and Homecare for many years. She later furthered her training to become a foot care nurse and started her own business. Best Foot Forward flourished because of the great care that Silke gave and the compassion she showed to all of her clients. Silke was very interested in fitness, health and naturopathy and, at the time of her diagnosis, was following up on a dream she held for some time by furthering her studies in nutrition. She was a fierce competitor, playing ball and ringette for many, many years. At her kickboxing gym, she was known as “The German”.

 

Silke loved to travel and did so with Doug and the kids, visiting several different countries. A highlight was a special mother/daughter trip with Melissa to Germany and the Czech Republic a few years ago. She also spoke of wonderful memories of time spent at Lake of the Woods.

 

After her diagnosis, Silke became passionate about raising awareness of GBM. She recruited a team of over 100 people to walk in the Brain Tumour Walk in June, who together raised $14,000 for the cause.

 

Silke loved her family fiercely and was a fantastic wife and mother. There’s nothing she wouldn’t do for them. Her beautiful smile and contagious laugh, as well as her amazing sense of humour never failed her throughout her entire battle. She showed immense determination and courage and was a hero to us all.

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The family would like to thank family and friends for their unfailing support throughout this battle, as well as the numerous doctors, nurses, aides and therapists who gave Silke medical care, but especially to the nurses and staff on the 3E Wing of the Palliative Ward at Riverview Health Centre, and to Doctors Pitz and Garcia.

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A celebration of Silke’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, August 27, 2018, at the Norwood Hotel, 112 Marion Street, Winnipeg, MB.

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As this is a celebration, please leave your funeral suits at home and note that her favourite colour was blue. We will also have an open-microphone for anyone who would like to share a “Silke story” as part of our celebration (please limit to one minute each).

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In lieu of flowers, Silke asked that donations be made to the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada, or Cancer Care Manitoba, Brain Research.

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“I am grateful every morning that I wake up, and every night that I go to sleep, to have been able to enjoy that day to the fullest! Too bad it took a brain tumor to make me realize this! Don’t wait for your a-ha moment! Enjoy every day to the fullest, no matter how trivial your day may seem, you were here to experience it!”
                                                                        – Silke Blaine