Community mourns loss of Mannie Lenz

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Many community members are mourning the loss of Mannie Lenz after she succumbed to her battle with cancer on Tuesday.

Lenz was in hospice care at the time and had her family by her side.

In February 2022, Lenz ended up in the emergency room at the Fort St. John Hospital after falling ill. Doctors kept Lenz while they tried to figure out what was causing her sickness before discovering she had cancer.

Lenz had stage 4 cancer, which started in her colon before travelling to her liver and eventually her lungs.

Lenz thanked the community for their support shortly after both fundraisers.

Lenz endured chemotherapy and, later, immunotherapy to give her more time.

She went into hospice on December 18th, 2023 and passed away eight days later, on December 26th.

Janine Rutherford, a friend of Lenz’s for over 30 years, says Lenz always exuded happiness, joy, and positivity.

“She was just boundlessly positive. All the chemo nurses would laugh at us. They always knew when we would arrive because we’d be laughing and giggling and having a good time in chemo,” Rutherford said.

In a private Facebook group, Lenz’s family and friends have continued to post about her, sharing stories, sentiments, songs and how much they will all miss her.

“The sun will shine a little dimmer without you,” one friend wrote.

“You always went above and beyond to be the best person to every single person you came across,” wrote another.

Rutherford says a celebration of life will be held for Lenz in the spring.