Condolences
With love from Hannah, Naomi and Glenda
and 3 others have purchased flowers for the family of Janet Cochrane. Send Flowers
Guaranteed hand delivery by a local florist
Loading...
G
Gillian, Astrid and Louise planted 3 trees in memory of Janet Cochrane
Monday, July 29, 2024
3 trees were planted in memory of
Janet Lillian Cochrane
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/premium-tree-bg.jpg
Remembering Janet with much love and happy memories.
Please wait
G
Glenda planted 3 trees in memory of Janet Cochrane
Sunday, July 28, 2024
3 trees were planted in memory of
Janet Lillian Cochrane
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/premium-tree-bg.jpg
Dear Janet,You will be sadly missed.A la Porchaine
Please wait
A
Anonymous planted 3 trees in memory of Janet Cochrane
Friday, July 26, 2024
3 trees were planted in memory of
Janet Lillian Cochrane
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/premium-tree-bg.jpg
Dear Lillian and Nancy,Sent with love and remembrance of JanetGabi, Andrew and Gordon
Please wait
D
Don Aker uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
/public-file/2561/Ultra/Image_png.png
Eulogy
I once stumbled across this quote: “There are friends, there is family, and there are friends that become family.” Although she wasn’t related to my wife and me, Janet was our family.
I first met Janet in the fall of 1966 when we ended up in grade 7 together at what was then called Hants West Rural High. Like so many other things over the years, that school has gone through several changes and is now Hants West Middle School. It’s heartening to know, though, that there are some things that never change, and one of them was Janet. We were friends for 58 years, and during that whole time, she always remained the person I first came to know. She was fiercely independent, which explains how she became a veterinarian when women were often discouraged from entering that profession. And she loved to travel, which explains how she ended up living and working in Australia and, later, in England. I never lived more than an hour’s drive from where I grew up, but she forged a life for herself on the other side of the world.
I always admired her courage to try new things, like changing careers when she grew disillusioned with veterinary medicine. She loved working with animals, but she didn’t much care for their owners, many of whom were obnoxious and demanding and believed they knew far more than any doctor. Janet did not suffer fools lightly. In fact, she was one of the most honest people I’ve ever met—sometimes brutally honest, and I loved that about her. If she didn’t like you, you knew it. And if she did like you, you knew that, too. I was glad that she liked me. Of all the people in my Hants West 7th grade class, she was the one person who, despite where she lived in the world, always kept in contact and always visited whenever she returned to Canada.
So Janet left veterinary medicine and became an environmental scientist working in civic planning, and it was during this time that she met the love of her life at, of all places, a dance class. My wife and I were fortunate to meet Glynn, and it was easy to see they were meant for each other. Both shared the same quirky sense of humour, and both were incredibly creative—a former teacher, Glynn was an accomplished photographer and woodworker, and Janet’s passions were sewing and gardening. I wish I could show you some of the quilts that she made—they were works of art that I always thought should be displayed on walls rather than lying on beds or in blanket boxes. She and Glynn made their home in a lovely Southwold cottage, where they often entertained Glynn’s grown daughters, Hannah and Naomi, and their families. As the years unfurled, they eventually began making plans to retire together in Nova Scotia but, tragically, that didn’t happen. A heart attack took Glynn and he died in her arms on their kitchen floor.
Janet never fully recovered from losing Glynn, mourning him until the day she died. But she drew on that seemingly unlimited strength of hers and continued working and living in that cottage and spending time with friends like Louise Moore and Mark West and the members of her beloved sewing circle. And she continued making her own plans for retirement. But it was around this time that she began to experience pain in her back. After a cursory examination, her doctor told her that aches and pains were to be expected at her age and he prescribed Tylenol. Despite the pain, she went ahead with her plans to return to Nova Scotia, and after retiring and selling her Southwold cottage, she packed up and came home, eventually purchasing a house in Bedford only minutes from where my wife and I lived. And she undertook the gargantuan task of renovating it. But her pain was becoming increasingly severe, so she went to a doctor and was eventually diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. With her characteristic no-nonsense attitude, she asked the physician how much time she had left, and he replied, “I wouldn’t make any long-term plans.” That callous comment might have destroyed other people, but Janet didn’t let it stop her. She continued the renovations from her hospital bed, and I FaceTimed her from building supply stores so she could pick out via video her kitchen cabinets and flooring and paint and tiles and door handles and everything else that she needed to drag her 1950s bungalow into the 21st century.
The oncologist who eventually treated her gave her two years, but Janet was nothing if not stoic, and she stretched that into five. Hospital visits and chemotherapy became routine, and she always hated the intake process when she would be asked the same questions over and over again. What annoyed her most was the disbelief on administrators’ faces when they learned she had no children of her own. With her usual deadpan humour, she once threatened to get a t-shirt printed with the words, “Yes, I’m a woman, and no, I don’t have children. Deal with it.”
Janet’s final wish was to enjoy the summer in her beloved garden. When she became unable to care for her property, she hired Mac Thomas to be her landscaper. When I informed him about Janet’s passing, Mac responded with this text, which I’d like to share with you: “Thank you for the message, Don. This is sad news. Janet and I had become friends and we spent many uplifting hours building her vision of the garden and landscape around the house. I was always happy that I was able to provide for her the help she needed. A good friend of mine lives across the street from Janet, our children are friends, and it was me that approached Janet about offering my services. And although she was reluctant at first, being the fierce English soul that she was, I was happy to be available as her illness progressed. We worked well together and shared many stories and enjoyed many laughs. She was always honest about her situation and I was always receptive to the hardships she was facing. Such a brave woman with politeness and respect at the heart of her personality. It was a joy to have known her.” I had to smile at Mac’s description of Janet as an English soul but I understood it because, after living in Britain for so many years, she’d acquired a delightful English accent. And she was fierce. She had to be to endure all that life had thrown at her.
I wish I could thank here all of the people whom Janet was grateful to during her illness, but I know I’ll forget some so I won’t try. However, I feel I must mention two, her cousin Bob and his wife Brenda. They gave Janet the most precious gift of all this summer—they took her on a trip to PEI, a place she’d always wanted to go but had never been, and she spoke about it often afterwards. They gave her a memory in her final weeks that she absolutely treasured.
Several years ago, a colleague of mine developed cancer, and although my wife and I visited him often during his illness, I couldn’t bring myself to speak about the inevitable with him. In fact, the last time I saw him, he told me, “Don, it won’t be long now. I can feel myself slipping away.” I didn’t know what to say to him, didn’t know if there was anything I could say, so I mumbled something that I don’t even remember. Not long after he passed, I was speaking with a friend about that moment and telling her how helpless I’d felt. Her husband is an oncologist, and she shared with me something he’d once told her. “When a person is dying,” he said, “they want to hear three things. One of them is, ‘I forgive you’.” There was nothing I had to forgive Janet for, with the possible exception of dying far too soon. The other two things that terminal patients need to hear are “I love you, and I’ll miss you.” I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to tell Janet both of these things in her final hours.
L
Louise Moore posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Condolences to all of Janet's family and friends in Canada and to let you know that Janet was much loved here in the UK for her can-do attitude and her sense of humour. She will be greatly missed.
G
Gillian Matthews posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Looking back, Janet’s friendship group in the UK emanated from our friendship when she became my vet. One evening I went to supper and I remember the spaghetti catching fire as it stood upright in the saucepan! Janet was such a good friend to me, helping me rescue feral kittens from a hollow tree and rescuing her beloved whippet, Lady, to become the companion for her equally loved wire haired Jack Russell, Lucy. She was an excellent vet and renowned for her surgical skills. I introduced her to several successful but unsuitable men and then Ros, who taught with me, and myself decided to introduce her to Glynn who was Ros’s Head of Department. His kindness and love and attention won her over and resulted in 18 happy years together . She told me he would kiss her good night every night before they went to sleep. I have many happy memories of meals out , meals in their Reydon home , walks and her support when I had problems . She was a true friend. Condolences to Janet's family and friends.
K
Kevin Allen uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
/public-file/2559/Ultra/Image_jpg.jpg
Our last get together
D
Don and Debbie Aker posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
“There are friends, there is family, and there are friends that become family.”
K
Kevin Allen posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Aunt Lillian and Nancy,
On such a sad occasion I can only hope sharing some wonderful happy and sometimes humorous memories I have of Janet can help you through this time.
There are so many memories going back to childhood at the farm, riding horses, haying, swimming and large family meals together.
As we grew older Janet came to Ontario. I remember the day she got her ‘new’ car while attending vet college. It was a manual and she was struggling so she drove all the way to St. Thomas for a lesson on hills.
She offered a room at her place in Guelph for some quiet study time for me. Then there were the calls to say they had lots of rain at the farm and hay had to be done, so we would hop in her car and start the drive. Driving from Ontario to Nova Scotia with a parakeet flying freely in the car and a Siamese cat climbing around freely was a challenge at times.
The fairly regular Wednesday evenings at the vet clinic to help with procedures on larger pets (so I could help hold them down).
When Janet first arrived in Toronto she wanted to go for dinner. She picked Sailor’s Pub at Ontario Place. She made reservations for Dr. Cochrane and guest. Thrilled her to be able to make that reservation but quite annoyed when they greeted me as Dr. Cochrane…. I quickly corrected them but it was a point of laughter for quite some time.
Once we both settled in Toronto we shared an apartment in Richmond Hill. All I can say is “Best roommate ever”. This living arrangement ended when Janet decided to start her world adventures. I still remember her saying “I think I want to go to Australia, want to come with?” Having just started my new job and career, I declined.
I am so happy that I have so many happy and often humorous memories of Janet. These are just a few that popped up as I sat down to think about this.
I will miss her dearly but am also so glad to have shared so much with her.
L
Louise Moore uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
/public-file/2558/Ultra/Image_jpg.jpg
What would Janet do? What would Louise do? Between the two of us we always managed to work it out! Remembering the fun times (and hard work) and our love of fabric that we shared over the years. Take it easy, Janet.
W
With love from Hannah, Naomi and Glenda purchased flowers
Monday, July 29, 2024
//d1uep5tseb3xou.cloudfront.net/content/images/thumbs/0012203.jpeg
With love from Hannah, Naomi and Glenda
purchased the Light Of My Life Bouquet and planted a memorial tree for the family of Janet Cochrane.
Send Flowers
In loving memory of Janet Cochrane.These colours reminded me of Janet's wedding dress - I hope she'd appreciate the bright celebration of her life.
Please wait
W
With love from Hannah, Naomi and Glenda planted a tree in memory of Janet Cochrane
Monday, July 29, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
In loving memory of Janet Cochrane.These colours reminded me of Janet's wedding dress - I hope she'd appreciate the bright celebration of her life.
Please wait
H
Hannah Sheppard uploaded photo(s)
Monday, July 29, 2024
/public-file/2555/Ultra/Image_jpg.jpg
Janet will be so missed! She made our Dad so happy and I'm glad they found each other for the time they had together.
Sending my condolences to all of Janet's friends and family in Canada.
Love,
Hannah (Sheppard)
A
April MacDonald lit a candle
Sunday, July 28, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/material_candle_green.jpg
Aunt Lillian, Nancy I am so saddened to hear of Janet's passing. Love and prayers to you.
April
G
Geff & Faye Singleton posted a condolence
Saturday, July 27, 2024
To Lillian & Nancy, we send our deepest condolences. We hope to see you all on Tuessday.
Geff & Faye
B
Bruce Cochrane and family planted a tree in memory of Janet Cochrane
Saturday, July 27, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
With Deepest sympathy
Please wait
A
Andrea Dauphinee posted a condolence
Saturday, July 27, 2024
Condolences to Janet’s family and friends. I met Janet when we attended Hants West Rural High. She was determined then and that determination continued throughout her life. I am thankful we were able to reconnect at our high school reunion last year. Rest in Peace
B
Brad Chisholm posted a condolence
Friday, July 26, 2024
My sincere condolences to Janet’s family. My name is Brad Chisholm, Janet’s neighbour across the street. We chatted often especially while out doing yard work. My kids, Evan and Olivia, mowed her law for a few years. She was a lovely lady and we will truly miss her cheerfulness.
A
Anonymous purchased flowers
Friday, July 26, 2024
//d1uep5tseb3xou.cloudfront.net/content/images/thumbs/0012346.jpeg
With loving memory of Janet,From Heather, Cheryl, Glenn and Kevin
Please wait
B
Barbara planted a tree in memory of Janet Cochrane
Friday, July 26, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
RIP Janet. You made learning fun. Rest now.
Please wait
B
Barbara Bailey-Mellin posted a condolence
Friday, July 26, 2024
Sincere condolences to Janet's family at this sad time.
I shared a bench in both physics and chemistry labs (high school at HWH) with Janet. I remember her love of learning and her serious dedication to being the best that she could be. I was grateful to have a heartfelt chat and reconnect with her last summer at our reunion.
She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
V
Vicki Fletcher posted a condolence
Friday, July 26, 2024
My sincere condolences to Janet’s family today. I was so happy to have reconnected with her in recent years. In highschool I remember her as being so witty and with a “no nonsense” attitude when there was something to be done.
Rest easy Brave woman… you inspired us all!
S
Sheila Marie Crouse uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, July 25, 2024
/public-file/2541/Ultra/Image_jpg.jpg
You will be truly missed Janet but I know your suffering has ended.You fought a very brave battle that was a tough one to win.
I have lots of fond memories of our days at A.C. and of our year as room mates.We learned a lot together not only academically but also about leaving home for the first time and about getting along with others. I was so happy you fulfilled your dream of becoming a vet-you worked very long and hard to get there.
I will truly miss you my dear friend.
A
Anonymous purchased flowers
Thursday, July 25, 2024
//d1uep5tseb3xou.cloudfront.net/content/images/thumbs/0012208.jpeg
Anonymous
purchased the Loving Light Dishgarden and planted a memorial tree for the family of Janet Cochrane.
Send Flowers
Janet will remain in our hearts forever.Sending our love and condolences;Stephen, Susan, Kevin, Joanne and families
Please wait
A
Anonymous planted a tree in memory of Janet Cochrane
Thursday, July 25, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
Janet will remain in our hearts forever.Sending our love and condolences;Stephen, Susan, Kevin, Joanne and families
Please wait
M
Mark West purchased flowers
Thursday, July 25, 2024
//d1uep5tseb3xou.cloudfront.net/content/images/thumbs/0012187.jpeg
Mark West
purchased the Eternal Friendship Remembrance Bouquet and planted a memorial tree for the family of Janet Cochrane.
Send Flowers
I will miss you Janet always .... From Mark xxx
Please wait
M
Mark West planted a tree in memory of Janet Cochrane
Thursday, July 25, 2024
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-store/memorial-tree.jpg
I will miss you Janet always .... From Mark xxx
Please wait
H
Heather Miller posted a condolence
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Dear Aunt Lillian and Nancy,
I am so sad to hear of your terrible loss. Janet and I always had great fun when our family made that long trek from Montreal to visit the farm in the summers. Swimming, horseback riding, playing with kittens, egg collecting, running around the farm and in and out the barn, strawberry picking, braiding twine, the list goes on. I particularly cherished evenings spent at your home having sleepovers with Cheryl and Nancy.
Janet did so many positive things in her life and has left a legacy of love and care. Your loss is all of ours as well.
Much love to you both and my most heartfelt condolences,
Heather
J
James carmichael posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
To all of Janet's family iam so very sorry for your loss Know that iam thinking of you all at this sad time Jamie Carmichael
C
The family of Janet Lillian Cochrane uploaded a photo
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
/tribute-images/2964/Ultra/Janet-Cochrane.jpg
Please wait
Find Us:
Contact Us
Phone: 902-798-8317
Fax: 902-798-8118
Email Us
location
419 Albert St., PO Box 981
Windsor, N.S.
B0N 2T0