To say the announcement of Janet’s sudden passing was a shock would be an understatement. Only days before, Janet was capturing photos at our speaking event and taking time to pen an article for Oakville News and our website.
It didn’t matter which event was happening in Oakville, there was a good chance that Janet would be there, giving of her time, with her camera in hand. For the past decade Janet has been a good friend to the Canadian Club of Halton. The photos you see on this website are hers. The articles capturing the hightlights of our speakers comments in our blog are hers. As webmaster, I met Janet three years ago when I joined CCH. She was very excited to know we had created a website and was quick to offer her talent and time to provide photos and a write up of out guest speakers. We had a good sytem going, Janet would drop a USB key to Barry Wylie who would select the photos and identify those in them, then pass the USB to me. I would load the photos on the site and do the same with the article that usually followed shortly after. On Sunday afternoon she delivered the USB to Barry along with a 15 minute chat, I picked the USB up from Barry Monday morning and Janet emailed her article to Barry Tuesday at noon. Tuesday evening Janet was gone.
We are reminded how fragile is life, and also the impact one person can have in their community. At her visitations Friday evening and Saturday afternoon it was evident there were so many who had the benefit of knowing Janet. Her love of family, her work, her participation with so many community organizations will be her legacy. Her constant smile a memory for all.
The Canadian Club of Halton has made a donation to the McMaster Children’s Foundation in Janet’s memory.
Below are some of the responses received by Barry Wylie after he sent a note out to our membership and others in the community.
We will truly miss her smiling face and enthusiastic encouragement to get up from the table so she could capture our presence in a photo
Janet was a lovely person who brought joy and a fierce spirit to the world
Such an upbeat lady
She struck me as a very happy and engaging lady
She was such a vibrant lovely person
Janet’s gentle nature and smiling face
We always chatted when we saw one another – she was so positive and had a smile on her face every night
She was a spirited woman and will be very much missed
She was a memorable and kind person
I am going to miss her and her hugs greatly – she always made me smile
We met back in 2006 when I started to work in Oakville and I attended many of her art exhibits, talked to her at the Chamber events and got even closer over the Canadian Club dinners the last few years
She was such a positive, wonderful person
She was a good friend – I have known her for many, many years – she loved taking pics at all the Chamber events and thoroughly enjoyed talking to people
I will miss her big smile and generous heart
I always appreciated Janet’s upbeat attitude especially the first time I attended the Canadian Club – she was so welcoming and friendly
Janet used to come to our yoga class too – she was a lovely lady
She was such a lovely lady – your pic from last week sums it all up – that’s who she was
She never showed her stress, just her joy in taking photos for others
Such a humane, intelligent, and outrageously generous and warm-hearted soul
She was a kind and compassionate lady
She brought the community together through her camera lens
Clearly Janet touched many on her earthly journey. I’m sure she is adjusting her camera settings to account for the light in heaven as she watches over us.
Janet you will be missed.
