Jeannette was born in 1946, in a displaced person’s camp in Italy. Her parents, Fay and Max Kifer, were survivors of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps.
Jeannette immigrated to Canada with her parents in 1948. They lived in Calgary, Alberta, close to the uncle who had sponsored their immigration. Jeannette grew up in Calgary and attended universities in Calgary and Edmonton.
She married Bernie Hoffman in 1968. They were together for 52 years until his passing in 2021.
Jeannette taught Junior High School in Calgary until she and Bernie moved to Red Deer with their two children, Tamara and Sam, in 1977. Bernie ran the hotel in Red Deer that he and his brothers had purchased. Jeannette worked in the hotel for many years until she opened her own chocolate and wedding shop in Red Deer.
In 1991 Jeannette, Bernie, and the family moved to Edmonton where they started Medichair, a franchised homecare medical company. In 2017 they separated from the franchise and became independent under the name Medmobility.
Jeannette still runs the company but takes time out to enjoy her four granddaughters.
