- Brandon Sun Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
JENNIFER SHERIDAN WESTDAL
Date of Passing: Mar 23, 2026
Offer Condolences or Memory Make a donation to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation
JENNIFER SHERIDAN WESTDAL
Jennifer Dawn Sheridan Westdal: After defying the odds and surviving more than four years with a glioblastoma diagnosis, our beloved Jen was reunited with her adored husband Paul in the early hours of March 23, 2026.
Jen was born in Brandon to Marilyn and the late Michael Sheridan. An only child of a single mom, Jen was incredibly independent and resourceful. She grew up close to her cousins and grandparents and spent many summer days with them at Brandosa Beach. Her house always had People magazine, which may be the reason behind her pop culture obsession.
Jen attended Linden Lanes, Vincent Massey, Crocus Plains, and Neelin. She graduated from Crocus in 1991 but returned to Neelin to upgrade some classes so she could apply to photography school. In the fall of 1992, Jen moved to Edmonton for the Photographic Technology program at NAIT. After completing her diploma, she worked for Astral Photo and Treck-Hall in Calgary, and Don’s Photo in Winnipeg.
After a few years in Calgary, Jen moved to Winnipeg. She met her husband Paul one fall evening in 1997 in the renowned 66 Edmonton Street apartment over board games followed by sweet conversation that lasted into the early morning hours. They bonded over their love of music and movies. They travelled through Asia and Europe before getting engaged in Turkey in May 2000. Paul and Jen were married in October 2001. After a few years of marriage, Robertson arrived, and Veronica completed the family a couple of years later.
Jen left paid employment when Robertson was born but eventually returned to the workforce. She found meaning in her work at the Women’s Health Clinic and South Winnipeg Family Information Centre supporting new parents and caregivers. She returned to post-secondary education as a mature student, graduating from the University of Manitoba on June 6, 2017, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
After Paul’s unexpected death in 2020, Jen took on every job that the WHRA offered her, while still being a rock-solid role model for Rob and Veronica. Twenty months after Paul’s passing, Jen was dealt another blow when a routine eye exam revealed a brain tumour. Jen treated the diagnosis as a challenge and set about packing as much living as possible into her remaining days. She saw both kids graduate from high school (and Rob from Red River), travelled with them to Edmonton and Toronto, and with her besties to Vancouver and Minneapolis. She attended as many concerts as she could, including at least three Blue Rodeo shows (if you know, you know). Even though she could no longer drive, she was rarely home. Jen had cultivated such a devoted community, there was always someone taking her out for coffee, lunch, cake, or drinks.
Jen leaves behind her children Robertson and Veronica, mother Marilyn Sheridan, mother-in-law Heather Westdal (Robert Revak), sisters-in-law Tanis Westdal (Keith Holm) and Sarah Westdal – Doelger (Christian Doelger), many aunts, cousins, friends, and colleagues. She was predeceased by Paul, her father-in-law John, her brother-in-law David, and her mom’s partner Ken.
The family would like to thank the palliative care doctors and nurses at Riverview Health Centre, Dr. Craig Harlos, Dr. Arvind Hastir, Dr. Andre Jastrzebski and many close family and friends.
Jen would like to remind you that a driver’s license is a privilege, not a right; only baby formula and nutritional supplements expire; and regular optometry visits can save your life.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CancerCare Manitoba.
Details for the celebration of life will be announced at a later date on the Neil Bardal Funeral Centre website.
As published in Brandon Sun, Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 28, 2026
