April 19, 1917 – March 11, 2014
Predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Reuben Horwitz in 1989. Born in Spokane, Washington, resided in Portland, Oregon from 1923 to 1955. Grant High School, Oregon State University, Class of 1939. Life member Kappa Alpha Theta and Oregon State Alumni. Served on Boards for University Fraternity, Regional Camp Fire Girls, Community. Resided in Fort St. James, BC from 1955 to 1995. Victoria Resident since 1996. Member of the Prince George Weavers and Spinners Guild, Victoria Weavers and Spinners Guild, Asian Art Society, Uplands Golf Club, Camosun Gyro Club Golden Girl, University Club of Victoria.
Predeceased by her nephew, Stuart Heath Rutherford; survived by nephews, Kenneth and Byron Rutherford, great niece, Meleah Rutherford, Portland, Oregon, her dearest friends, her goddaughter, Lesley Day and husband Matt Day, Bend, Oregon, her special adopted family, Rachel and Don Boult, Victoria, BC, Roxanne and Yann Brierley and their children Noel, Everett, Brynn and Sebastien, Vernon, BC and Kathie and Bob Thompson, Sidney, BC.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:30 pm, Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at the Interfaith Chapel, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, near parking lot 6 and Finnerty Gardens, with a reception to follow at Uplands Golf Club, 3300 Cadboro Bay Road, Victoria, BC. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
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Janet Giske Gillespie
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John and Anne Peterson It was with great sadness we received the news of Janet’s death.
For Forty Years (’55 to ’95) she migrated south to Vancouver or Victoria in the Fall, only to return to Fort Saint James in the Spring.
To quote Janet, “Still have the scars on my fingers were Reuben
pried me loose from the cabin door to get me to leave, and the soles of my feet from tearing up my roots. The minute we leave, I
can hardly wait to get back.”Janet and her husband, (Janet and Reuben) lived life to the fullest,
enjoyed every minute they were here, were loved and admired by all
who had the privilege to know them. (They), She will be missed.
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kathleen Manning My family and I first met Janet when she moved into The Rudyard Kipling where my parents, Hilda and Dick Meadows, lived. Janet became a great friend of theirs and served on the R. K. board, with my father. Over the years we saw her at many of Mom and Dad’s social functions. She was such an asset to any gathering. A wonderful conversationalist, she asked many questions, listened well to the answers and always remembered what she had been told the next time she saw that person. Our children were in awe of Janet’s stories about her time in northern B.C. They were always told with her special laugh and sense of humor and that “twinkle” in her eye.
After my father passed away Janet became a special addition at many of our Boxing Day Christmas and Thanksgiving Day dinners, with Mom. She continued to take the time to phone my mother and myself even after more care necessitated my mother moving to other facilities. And, although struggling with her own physical problems, Janet even attended my mother’s memorial last May. Our family was greatly touched and honored by her presence.
She was an extraordinary woman who made an impact on many lives. She will be missed greatly.
Kathleen Manning (Spencer, Sheena, John and Alan )
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Margot Rainsford Janet was a member of a small group called The Listeners which
I had the pleasure of running for the Victoria Handweaver’s and
Spinner’s Guild. She always had some useful information for the
group and often hosted her lovely home for our afternoon meetings.
She also had the group out for lunch at the Golf Club when she
no longer could manage at home.
I recently had a conversation with her as she had changed her
email address and wanted me to have it as I was her liaison to the
Guild. She sounded well then and we had made plans to have tea
sometime soon. We will all miss her thoughtful ways. Sincerely.
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Paul Rothe Hello, Janet’s relatives and freinds!
On behalf of the South Oak Bay Co-operative Association, I would like to offer our deepest sympathies at the loss of a magnificent “young” lady. She was sparkle in anyone’s life whom she touched, She was one diminutive dynamo!
It must be 15 years since Janet co-founded our group, and she was an active supporter and help until the past short while.
May Janet’s family and friends find peace in her passing.
Paul Rothe
Coordinator, South Oak Bay Co-op Association
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Elisabeth Westlake To Janet’s family and friends, I am sorry for your loss of this dear lady. While I am sure Janet is grateful to be relieved of the tribulation of an ailing, aging body, she brought such life and light to the world with her presence that we will be greatly missed.
I cried when I saw the obituary in the TC this morning. My heart was flooded with memories. How I met Janet for the first time on a Sunday morning. It was the same Sunday that my husband Tony left our home for the last time, carried out in a chair, to an ambulance to Hospice. The story of that Sunday is a long one, with many colourful details, but upshot of it is that Tony and Janet had a friendship. And from that Sunday, Janet became my friend too.
A widow for twenty five years, Janet’s phone calls to me in the months after Tony passed away endeared her to me forever. She was kind, funny and so encouraging. Her calls were short, but she packed a lot of compassion and goodness in the few minutes we chatted. She communicated strength with humour and she lived her life with grace. My visits to her home since that day only confirmed what a beautiful soul was Janet Horwitz. We were only acquainted for the last two years of her life, but she was a dear friend. I loved her and will miss her.
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Ralph W Fullerton My mother was a close friend of Janet’s since childhood. For decades I looked forward to Janet’s annual letters from the wilds of British Columbia, and how her life as a virtual pioneer changed and modernized over the years. She was really a treasure. I have traveled the world and seen many an amazing thing, and a lot of that desire to explore can be laid at Janet’s feet. Although I only actually met her a time or two, she had a huge impact on my life.
Thank you, Janet!Ralph Fullerton. Son of Jane Reynolds Fullerton Hyatt 1917-2012
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Marcia Jubitz Kendall Janet and my mother, Betty Henkle Jubitz grew up together. Sadly, I lost track of Janet after my mom passed in 1992. I travelled with my parents to visit them in the summer of 1970 and stayed with them for several days. Quite an education with no running water or electricity. Rueben allowed my father to help him stack wood. Not everyone was allowed to do this. Janet was such a great lady. We referred to each other as the Zeds, for the shared Z at the end of our names. I am so sorry for your loss.
My mother, Anna Norman Giske, became a friend of Janet’s at Oregon State University. When I was born, the only girl in our family, mom named me Janet, after her dear friend. I remember meeting her when I was little in Portland. When we moved to Seattle when I was five, a lovely ivory bedspread created by Janet on her loom with our shared name woven in beautiful blue threads at the the top arrived and it covered my bed throughout my childhood. My mom kept it in her cedar chest for the next 50 years til her passing in 2011. I have it and treasure it today. (Just in case there is another young Janet namesake out there who should inherit it.) I also treasure her wedding gift of beautiful place mats and napkins she made for us. I am so sorry my mom and I lost track of her whereabouts in recent years. It would be a pleasure to meet her relatives here in Portland where I live. She was a very special person with the gift of friendship who clearly meant a lot to those who knew her.