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Born January 19, 1940, in Collingwood, ON, died in Cobourg, ON, on May 29, 2022. Janette was deeply loved and will be missed by daughters, Kathleen, Heather and Sarah Johnston, daughter-in-law Carrah Johnston, and brothers Ian and Alec Lindsay, and their families. Daughter of the late Robert and Margaret Lindsay (née McKenzie) of Dundalk, ON, Janette was predeceased by her son D’Arcy Johnston in December 2021. She was a devoted but firm grandmother to nine grandchildren, all of whom benefitted greatly from her interest in their education and well-being: Amelia, Jacob, Edward, Sékouba, Noah, Henry, Francis, Adrian, and Eleanor. She will be missed by a wide circle of loyal friends from the many places in her life.
Janette grew up in Dundalk, ON, graduating with a degree in history from Victoria College at the University of Toronto in 1962. With her growing family, she moved to Pembroke and then Woodstock, Ontario. She finally settled in Cobourg, where she lived since 1990. She spent many years working as a mom, raising her busy family. She eventually returned to teaching, retiring from her career with the Northumberland County Board of Education, in 2000.
Janette came from a loving home where simple values of honesty, hard work, and community service were important. She applied these values throughout her life, building a broad and meaningful web of friends, causes, and volunteer projects. She was a committed environmentalist and bird watcher, supporting a wide range of groups, from backyard bird counts to land conservation. She was interested in local history, culture, and architecture, serving on several library and architectural preservation Boards. In 2005 Janette was presented with an Ontario Volunteer Service Award for her work with the Willow Beach Field Naturalists and the Victoria Hall Volunteers.
Janette was an active member of the University Women Clubs in Woodstock and Cobourg for over 50 years. A life-long downhill skier, she took her last run down the slopes of the Eastern townships at 80. She was intensely political, knocking on doors for the local Liberal candidate in every election over many decades. She loved theatre, gardening, Canadian literature, and playing bridge. These interests, along with her beloved home and garden and wide circle of friends and neighbours, helped her through the long isolation of COVID.
We will remember Janette as an engaged and caring mom and sister, a fiercely loyal friend, and a resilient and determined woman who lived a full and good life.
A Memorial service will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Cobourg on Thursday June 9th at 1 pm. Visitation will be held in the Church from 12 noon until service time. After the memorial service friends are invited to the Victoria Hall (Citizens Forum Room) for a reception from 2-4 pm. Cremation has taken place and Janette will be interred at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dundalk, Ontario with her parents at a later date. As per Janette’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Janette was a wonderful person! My condolences to her family.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Our sincerest of condolences go out to the whole family. Janette was a lovely lady...well known to us and adored on her many visits! we will miss her greatly!
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
I am sorry for your loss. Janette was a fine, interested and interesting woman. A loss to all who knew her. Suellen Stratton (Neighbour)
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Until last evening, I had hoped to attend the service today. Unfortunately, I’m not well enough to make the drive. Instead, I will send my sincere sympathy to Kathleen, Heather, and Sarah. They have been loving daughters, reflecting the devotion of a fine mother. Jan was a faithful friend, and her loss leaves deep sadness mixed with wonderful memories of family fun, skiing, and travel.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
So sorry to hear about Janette's passing. I grew up with her in Dundalk and enjoyed skiing with her at Devils Elbow for a number of years. This is a shock and my deepest condolences to all the family.
So sad to hear of Janette passing, a beautiful caring person and a great neighbor. Will be sadly missed, our sympathy to her family.
Being relatively new to Cobourg, I didn’t know Janette as well as I would have liked. She was one of those people you know you’d like to know better. My condolences to her family.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
My sincerest condolences to Janette's family. Janette was a regular volunteer in my classroom at C.R. Gummow School and her support was invaluable. The children eagerly looked forward to her visits. She will be missed.
My most sincere condolences to all the family. This year has been a difficult one for you all, and wish you a restful summer, filled with happy memories and time with your loved ones. Jan was always a joy to speak with, and I always enjoyed her visits to Magog, skiing on the mountain. I will always have fond memories of her
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
We were saddened by the news of Jeanette's death. We first encountered Jeanette while we were on the federal election campaign trail on Ball Street maybe in 2000 and we have knocked on doors and had stimulating conversations with her ever since. She was always interested in what we and our family were doing. She will be sorely missed.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
My deepest condolences to Janette's family. I have very fond memories of family get-togethers with the the Lindsay families. Jeanette was a special lady. Dawn (Lindsay) Orr.
Janette’s passing leaves a huge hole in her family. I have known her for at least 60 years; we met at Victoria College in U of T. Her legacy is based on her fierce honesty, her total and abiding love for her four children and nine grandchildren, her faithful friendships, and her embrace of progressive causes. She leaves this world a better place for her life.
I first met Janette when she was a library board member and we shared a hotel room in Toronto at the Ontario Library Conference. I enjoyed getting to know her and will not forget us waking in the morning and opening the curtains to see a huge snowfall. I remember, as Children’s Librarian, Janette bringing Noah in particular to the library. I will miss her friendly nature. My condolences to her family.
I am a fellow VHV so that’s how I remember Janette ! Hard working at all her tasks and always very friendly and interested in you personally ! Have been just keeping up my membership in recent so hadn’t seen her for quite a while at Victoria Hall Sometimes I’d see her pole walking in my neighbourhood ! We share the loss of a adult child she in 2021 and mine 2022 ! Sincere Condolences to her children , grandchildren and other family ! Ann Golden .
My condolences to Janette's family. I go to know Janette through our Bridge Club and also as a foursome on Trickster Bridge on Sundays.
Sincères Condoléances àux deux familles de Mme Johnston je suis avec vous de tout coeur et de la haut elle vous guidera .Soyez en certain beaucoup de courage pour cette perte immense et bonne continuité.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Janette and I have been friends for more than thirty years. We met as French teachers. Janette has been a warm and kind hearted and valued friend. My deepest condolences to Janette’s family on her loss.
Janette was a lovely person. I know she volunteered to get speakers for at least one educational talk at Victoria Hall on farming. She also touched my heart by donating to the Ontario Farmland Trust in our name. Always in good spirits when I would see her, she was easily recognizable as a real gem. I will now make a donation in her memory at the Ontario Farmland Trust. Thank you Janette for all you did to make the world a better place. My condolences to her family . She will be missed.
My sincere condolences to Janette's family. She will always be remembered as a wonderful, caring member of the Victoria Hall Volunteers, one of her many interests and accomplishments. Her beautiful smile will be sadly missed.
Janette was a wonderful, kind person and a lovely neighbor. My condolences to the family, I know she will be truly missed.
Janette has been a life time friend (75yr) . We shared many experiences and a wonderful trip to Africa together.I will miss her honesty, her sincere caring and just being a treasured friend. May you rest in peace my friend. Sincerely Carole Ruff
We will greatly miss you on your daily walks on our street, especially the good conversations we enjoyed about the nature groups we supported. A donation will be made to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
I am so very sorry for your loss ~ sending love & condolences to your family ?
So sad to hear of the passing of our dear friend and “ski buddy” . ….so many fond ,fun memories. Sending condolences to all the family. You will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace. Lois and Moe❤️?⛷
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Nature Conservancy of Canada
My deepest sympathy to Janette's family for their loss. Janette had such a sympathetic engaged intelligence, interested in all that life offered. She cheerfully took on organizing the Canstage subscription for our five-member group and we always enjoyed and benefited from her pre- and post-theatre insights. We will miss her very much.
My condolences to Janette’s family. She was a wonderful woman so full of life. I will miss running into her at the Cobourg Farmer’s Market as well as on various hikes with the Pine Ridge Hiking Club. Always a joy to talk to with a positive and upbeat spirit.
I’ve known Janette since 1959 when we met at Victoria College. We reconnected after I moved to Cobourg over six years ago. She was the same wonderful person that I knew many years ago. I enjoyed our many walks, talks and visits. I will miss her very much.
I was deeply saddened to hear of Janette's passing. She was such a kind and compassionate lady and will be sorely missed by all who knew her. My deepest sympathy to her family.
So sorry to hear of Janette's passing. Francesca and I will fondly remember the time we were able to spend with her these last few years.
So very sorry to hear of Janette’s passing. She was very nice to my brother Peter and used to help him try to read. I enjoyed talking with her at Timmy’s every so often. She was a very nice lady.
Jan was a good friend for 50 years or so and we had many good times together playing bridge and travelling together. I am very sorry that I will miss seeing you at the funeral and reception. I will be thinking of you often. Marg
We have known Janette for many years not only as Our neighbour but as a dear friend. She was always so kind and caring and we had many wonderful conversations with her. Our deepest sympathy to her family,we will truly miss her. Barb & Tom
We met Janette many years ago playing bridge. She was always ready to talk about all subjects. We could always count on her when a single player was needed, either on -line or face to face. She will be missed for her wonderful take on life. Rest In Peace, Janette
My deepest sympathies to Janette’s daughters and grandchildren on your loss. Those of us who knew her through CFUW felt her dedication until the end. As a friend she was always ready to help and give support whenever the need arose. I will miss our conversations and her kindness.
All my sympathies to Janette’s family on her death. She is leaving a large hole in my life, as well. We have known each other since she moved to Cobourg with D’arcy. We have played bridge, gone to Book Club, celebrated birthdays and anniversaries and talked politics….mostly agreeing. She was a very dear friend.
To Janette's family my deepest sympathy for your loss. I am fortunate to have known Janette through various local organizations and community advocacy. She was a fearless woman and open to hearing different points of view. Janette has left a lasting impression among her many friends here in Cobourg. I smile in remembering her ... and her beautiful front garden!
I am so sorry to hear of Janette’s passing. She was such a wonderful person and I had the privilege of being one of those people she knocked on doors for. I remember her and my grandson Avery going out together and she showing him “the ropes”. Janette and I had many conversations about politics but they always ended by talking about our families and how proud we were of them. Know that Janette will be missed by many and her passion for making things better will be felt for generations to come. Kim
Cathy and I were friends with Janette for many years after volunteering at the Breakfast Club at the Catholic Church together. We will miss our monthly coffee visits.
Janette was a kind neighbour and friend, she will be sorely missed. With sympathy, Cat & Rob
my thoughts are with of of Janettes family at this time - she will be missed.