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 at a later date. Please check www.maccoubrey.com for details when arrangements are finalized. Cremation has taken place and Janette will be interred at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dundalk, Ontario with her parents.
As per Janette’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Janette Helen
Johnston 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Cobourg, Province: Ontario