Jennie was born March 1, 1918 at Square Hill, near Rabbit Lake, Sk. Her parents Mike and Polly Shemko had immigrated from Russia in 1912 and filed a homestead on SW 19-47-12-W3. She was the first girl born after five boys. Whenever her parents went somewhere by horse and sleigh or buggy, they always took her along to get her away from the boys. Whenever a girl came to the house she would be shy because she seldom saw girls. Jennie went to Fraternity School which was about 2 miles away. She could only speak Russian, so the teacher told her to go home and learn English, however no one spoke it at home. After completing school she stayed home to help her parents, and look after her newborn sister Marie. Jennie enjoyed the preachers who came for church meetings in the area. This influenced her to attend Bible school in Saskatoon for a short time.
In 1939 Jennie and her family moved to Clashmoor where they bought a half section. Her uncle Harry Shemko had a homestead there. While at Clashmoor she met Ted Tatarynovich and they were married Feb. 25, 1941. They lived at Orley near Mistatim where they raised cattle, hogs and chickens. In 1949 they bought the Doc Horwill farm just south of Crooked River. Jennie resided on that farm for 63 years.
In August 2001 Ted passed away at the age of 98. She continued to live on the farm, with her son Mike, and very much enjoyed going for drives and into town. In 2010 Jennie went into Newmarket Manor every Friday, where she received excellent care. Later she lived with her daughter Bernice in Nipawin but still visited the farm occasionally. In August 2012 she moved to the Arborfield Special Care Lodge where she became like family to the residents and staff. She received excellent care until her peaceful passing on April 29, 2013.
Jennie is predeceased by her parents Mike and Polly, brothers: John, Mac, Nick, Jack and Pete, and sister Ann Wolokoff.
Left to cherish her memory are her loving children: Bernice (Torance) Tornquist, Mike, Donna (Garry) Kowalchuk and John (Mary), grandchildren: Sheldon, Emily, Heather and Chloe, brothers Alvin and Sam, sister Marie Saprunoff, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.