Janet Margaret Whitrow

It is with a tremendous amount of thankfulness and honor that the family of Janet Margaret Whitrow wishes to announce she passed away on December 10, 2022 at the age of 99 years. 

Born on July 1st, she would joke that she has been around for 100 Canada day parades celebrating her birthday.  The parade was subsequently renamed the Nannada Day Parade by her grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband of 49 ½ years Nathaniel Allen Whitrow in 2006. She was also predeceased by her brothers, sisters and in-laws: Harry (Joyce) Matheson, Ina (Stuart) MacKinnon, Norman Matheson, Howard (Ione) Matheson, Beatrice Knorr, Roy Matheson, Richard Matheson, Maxine (Dick) James, Larry Matheson, Heinz Prosch, Glenn Chase, Ralph and Leeta Whitrow and John and Margaret Ball.

Janet  is survived by her children: Peggy (Blayne) Banting, Kevin (Margaret) Whitrow, Alan (Yvonne) Whitrow; grandchildren: Sarah (Chris), Anna (David), Ellen (Steve), Nathaniel (Andra), Hannah (Craig), Mary (Colin), Benjamin (Rylee), Jeff (Emily), Jenica (Kolin), William and Walker; great grandchildren: Cooper, Hudson, Henry, Oliver, Finley, Elsie and Shepherd; her youngest sister Elizabeth Prosch; sisters-in-law Berle Matheson and Lois Chase.

 Janet began her life in 1923 on a farm near Fosterton in Southwest, Saskatchewan. Pioneer farm life in 1930’s was not easy and at the age of 15 Janet and her sister Ina travelled with their father to Ontario where the sisters were settled in with his sisters families and he returned to the farm. Janet began her journey of independence that year.  She was able to finish grade 11 with help from her aunt and she had entered the work force by then; needing to work to support herself and to send some money home to the family on the farm. From 1938 to 1943 she lived in Toronto where her most notable employment was with McMillan Publishing. In 1943 she moved back to Edmonton to be nearer her family which had relocated to Barrhead, Alberta. Working there, in the HR department for Woodwards, a place she remembered when her family would complain to her, stating “the complaint department was on the 5th floor”, then jokingly saying, “there was only four floors”.  Calgary became home in 1946, working then as a dental assistant she became hooked on dental care and flossing for life! Her older brother Harry was home from the war and attending Alberta Bible College there, her older sister Ina was also there and her future brother and sisters in law were also part of her new social circle. She met Nat at his sister Joyce’s wedding to Janet’s brother Harry in 1948.  Janet married Nat in 1957 in Calgary and they began their life together on the farm in Yellow Grass.

Janet’s 34 years of living and learning, prior to starting her nearly 50 years together with Nat in Yellow Grass, had prepared her for when she would really shine.  Those years together raising a family, building a farm, growing a church, having an open door to everyone and always being ready with a listening ear and an honest opinion endeared Janet to so many.  She encouraged so many young women over the years with her laugh, her ability to know their situation and to help them thrive. That list would include many that would credit Janet with adding to their lives. She never lost that ability, which was so beautifully summed up by one of her nieces when she coined the phrase, “I just need to find my inner Nanna”. Janet was a master of sharing her strength her peace her joy and her trust in God that she fiercely held on to. Such an example of how she lived this out was the Sunday dinner! Janet prepared hundreds of roast beef or chicken dinners after church, most often served with gravy and vegetables from her garden. Sometimes she simply brought family together and sometimes visitors at church or another family.  She filled the house with the aroma of wholesome food and she created a place to be relaxed and at home to enjoy it. It was a gift that created community and life-long friendships for so many.

 In 2010 Janet sold her Yellow Grass home and purchased a condo in Caronport, Saskatchewan.  Many of her friends were no longer in Yellow Grass and she felt it was time for another chapter to begin. For 8 years she lived there, close to her daughter Peggy and her husband Blayne and became a part of a new community. In 2018 a move to assisted living was required and West Park Crossing in Moose Jaw was the next home. She became a favorite of the staff and care givers there as her humour and easy going personality never waned. Friends and family were always welcomed and enjoyed by Janet and West Park became part of many travellers itinerary. In mid-November of 2022 Janet entered the Moose Jaw Dr. F.H. Wigmore Hospital, followed by her final week in the Pioneer Lodge. Thank you to the entire care giving staff in the last 2 months. You folks all heard her say “thank you”, so many times! Her family cannot fully express our deep gratitude for the entire experience at all 3 of Mom’s final accommodations. You all were instrumental in the most cherished acts of caring for Mom.

 When you live for 99 years you are afforded the chance to impact many lives.  Whether it was her original family or friends throughout the years her children and their friends, nieces, grandchildren, care aids, nurses or doctors, so many descriptive words for Janet/Mom/Nanna remain the same. She was witty, thankful, pleasant, gentle, kind, brave, resourceful, non complainer, responsible and loving.  As her life drew to a close, her graciousness and gratitude were always evident, her humor thrived and she was able to show her love and feel loved by her family around her, she was admired by so many.

A Service of Remembrance will be held Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. from RD Family Funeral Chapel, Weyburn, SK with Dr. Blayne Banting officiating.  Funeral Luncheon will be held at RD Family Funeral Chapel with interment following at Yellow Grass Cemetery, Yellow Grass, SK.

For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Janet may be made to the Alberta Bible College, 635 Northmount Drive NW, Calgary, AB. T2K 3J6 or the Briercrest College and Seminary, 510 College Drive, Caronport, SK, S0H 0S0.