Jennie Goldstine was a beloved substitute teacher in Winnipeg’s North End | Canada Voices

Jennie Goldstine: Mother. Teacher. Voter. Friend. Born Sept. 25, 1929, in Kremenets Poland; died March 6, 2026, in Winnipeg; of natural causes; aged 96.

Like many Eastern European Jews, Jennie Margolis’s parents Aaron and Manya were looking for a better life, and they found it in Canada. The family arrived with Jennie (an infant) and her older brother Boris in the summer of 1930, just as the Depression was settling in. It might not have been the perfect time but their family that remained in Europe all perished in the Holocaust. This haunted Jennie her entire life.

As a teenager, Jennie helped out in her parents’ grocery store in the North End of Winnipeg. She delivered groceries on weekends, after school and if necessary, before school. (Later in life she attributed her longevity to all the exercise she had while delivering to customers.)

After high school, she went on to get her Bachelor of Arts degree from United College (University of Winnipeg) in 1949. She was one of the few women of her generation to graduate from university and this was a point of pride.

Jennie would often say that nothing motivates like being poor. In winter, she was inspired to improve her lot in life when she awoke to find her pillow was frozen to her bedroom wall.

Jennie could always be found with a book or newspaper in her hands. She loved history and politics, and she took a keen interest in current events. She never understood how some people went through life without paying attention to what was going on in the world.

In 1949, Jennie met Allan Goldstine at a party. It was a quick romance; she had only just broken off with another man. Jennie probably would have waited a few years to get married, but Allan liked to move quickly, and they were wed in 1950. Jennie received calls of congratulations from people thinking she was engaged to her previous boyfriend.

The couple welcomed three sons, Marc, Ian and Lawrence. The 1950s and ’60s were busy times with a lively house. She attended a lot of hockey and football games to watch her sons play. She always said hockey was her favourite sport. She loved the speed and action, but it wasn’t until 2019 that she saw her first NHL Winnipeg Jets game in person, at age 90.

In 1967, Jennie returned to school and obtained her teaching certificate. She primarily taught young children and returned to the neighbourhood where she was raised to work as a substitute teacher. Her calm demeanour and caring attitude made her a popular substitute. With pride and a pinch of boasting, Jennie liked to recall how she received flowers from grateful principals and was often met with a “Thank God it’s you!” welcome from school staff. She taught until her retirement in 1992, then Jennie and Allan moved to the family cottage in Gimli.

For Jennie and Allan, the 11th commandment was “thou must vote.” They told their children that for centuries Jews had been denied the right to vote and since we were fortunate to live in Canada, we had an obligation to use it. Even in the midst of a pandemic, Jennie (aged 91) insisted on getting to a polling station to cast her ballot.

When it came to decision making, Jennie’s favourite response was often “We’ll see,” which could be frustrating – it kept everyone wondering what her plans would be.

When Allan died in 2014, Jennie stayed in her own apartment for seven more years. In 2021, she moved into assisted living and later a care home. But what always kept her going was a love of life and people.

When Lawrence took her out for coffee, he would return to the table and find his mother busy talking to other customers. Once, Jennie talked to a woman non-stop for 15 minutes. Finally, the woman announced that her coffee break was over and she had to return to work. As she got up to go, she gave Jennie a big hug and said that she was so glad she had met her.

Lawrence was amazed that a total stranger could sum up so quickly the person the family had known their entire lives.

Lawrence Goldstine is Jennie Goldstine’s son.

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