Janet Ollerenshaw

Barbara JANET Ollerenshaw passed away peacefully, with family by her side, on the afternoon of Sunday, March 3, 2019 at the Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody BC. She was the loving wife of Neil for 58 years; loving mother of Pamela (Dave), Duncan (Kim) and Bruce (Dianne); and the loving grandmother of Chloe, Cassandra, Bryce, Keith (Caroni) and Christopher.

Janet was born to Marjorie and Steele Mackenzie in 1932 and grew up in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario with her two sisters, Jean and Mary-Jo. She was a well known violinist in the local youth orchestra and went on to McMaster University for her English degree. She followed that with a Library Science degree from McGill and then worked in Montreal and Vancouver before taking a position in the library at the University of Toronto. Here she would meet and marry Neil in 1960.

They raised their children in Calgary, Alberta, where they spent most of their years together. They were founding members of Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church where they remained for the rest of their time in Calgary. Janet added a teaching certificate from the University of Calgary and then spent 17 years working as a librarian in the Calgary School Board at Sir Winston Churchill High school. All of her children were lucky enough to attend her school.

As they approached retirement, Janet and Neil moved to a beautiful acreage overlooking the Rocky Mountains and spent 25 years together there with many family gatherings filled with love and laughter. When it came time to move back to a city, they chose Coquitlam to be closer to Pamela and Duncan and their families.

Janet loved to travel and loved family holidays. She fondly spoke of vacations at Red Bay and Muskoka lake as a child, traveling across England and Europe on her own in her twenties and then journeying with her husband and children to many countries around the globe. In later years Janet and Neil continued these travels to see and feel the texture of other cultures or simply to do what she loved best, to be with her children and grandchildren, who she was devoted to. She remained close to her sisters and their families, despite living across the country, and she treasured times when they could be together.

Janet was an avid reader devouring mysteries and historical novels. She loved cooking and baking and full family gatherings around a large table.

All who knew her remarked on her beautiful smile. Her nurturing, loving and generous spirit was the soul of her family and the echoes of her laughter will resound in her family's hearts forever.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday March 30, 2019 at Port Moody’s Old Mill Boathouse, 2715 Esplanade Avenue, Port Moody. Family greeting at 10:30am. Service at 11:00am. Luncheon to follow at 12:30.