Jeanette Lou Walker (nee Grinwich)

Nov 27, 1929-Aug 26, 2015

With sadness in our hearts but grateful for her full and happy life, we say goodbye to our mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend Jeanette (Jan) Walker, who died on August 26, 2015 in Victoria, BC. We cherish the memory of her artistic soul, indomitable spirit, generous nature, unconditional love and happy outlook on life; we can still hear her say, “Make happy memories.” Lovingly remembered by daughter Sheryl and grandchildren Amanda and Xavier Walker of Victoria; daughter Heather Carruthers and husband Glen of Kitchener, Ont; sister Lee Shrake and husband Gordon of Calgary; in-laws Pete Walker of Grand Prairie, Phil and Eileen Walker of Edmonton, Elsie and Johnny Martin of Fort St. John, and many loving nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Jeanette was predeceased by husband Donald (Don) in 1981; daughter Gaylene in 1985; parents William & Natalie Grinwich; brothers Johnny, Peter & Danny; and sister Pat Ward Childress.
Jeanette was raised on the family farm at St. Francis, Alberta, just west of Telfordville, but moved to Edmonton for schooling. She lived with her sister Pat and put herself through school by working, first at the GWG factory and then as an elevator operator at the Edmonton General Hospital, where she returned to work after graduating as a lab technician. In 1951, she married Don and moved to Lacombe where Don had secured a position at the Research Station and Jeanette ran the lab at the hospital. They were soon raising three girls and dedicating themselves to family and community. Her love of family and friends, and dedication to making the world a better place were her hallmarks.

Jeanette and Don both came from large, loving, close-knit families, and during their life in Lacombe, most of their vacation time was spent with Grinwich and Walker relatives. Jeanette dearly missed the close contact with relatives after her move to Victoria, but once she had picked roses and walked under cherry blossoms on Christmas Day, she couldn’t move back.

Jeanette was actively involved in figure skating, dancing, piano, church choir, Lacombe’s Centennial choir, Gilbert & Sullivan productions, Sunday school, CGIT, Guides, the Lacombe Lions Band, and many others. She was a true friend, and for over 30 years, her mornings began by visiting her best friend, Myrtle Pallister, for morning coffee – “with real cream.” Jeanette loved her coffee, and even took a percolator along on a trip to the States with sisters Lee & Pat, when she didn’t believe she could get “good coffee with real cream” along the way. Jeanette was a true friend and one of the original “Silly Six”, a group that originated in the 1950’s and remained friends for life; three were still in contact with Jeanette and survive her – Myrtle Pallister, Joan Fredeen, and Del McIntyre.

Jeanette was an amazing seamstress; you could always identify the Walker girls, as she dressed them in identical outfits, which she had designed and sewn with love. She was also a fabulous cook, famous for her homemade butter tarts, donuts, angel food cake, chiffon cake, biscuits, cabbage rolls, perogies, and lemon meringue pie. And she was real trooper. Don’s focus was the outdoors, and invariably, family weekends were spent camping, arrowhead-hunting, berry-picking, and gardening. Although a canvas tent in the middle of nowhere wasn’t Jeanette’s first choice of holiday, she never complained. (Well, not that much.)

Jeanette was an early feminist, active in SWAC and the women’s movement in Alberta. It was through this movement that her love of art became a passion and the focus of the rest of her life: much of her art reflects both her feminist perspective and her Alberta heritage. She studied art for many years at the Red Deer College, with a prime focus on painting, pottery, and printmaking.

After Don’s untimely death in 1981, Jeanette moved to Victoria, where she could garden year-round, be close to her grandchildren, and focus on what truly moved her: her artistic spirit. With like-minded friends, she founded and focused on printmaking with Watermark Printmakers, and on poetry with the Gadrian group. Her love of music and interest in her Russian heritage drew her to the Victoria Balalaika Orchestra, where she played and taught balalaika to newcomers for years until the group folded. Jeanette also loved spending time at her Shawnigan Lake acreage. And throughout her thirty years in Victoria, she landscaped and planted an award-winning garden, which was featured in several magazines.

Although Alzheimer’s slowly stole her memories and mobility, Jeanette remained a happy and loving soul, right up to her last days. Everyone who met her remembers her smiles and giggles. Her family would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to all the people who helped make her life as comfortable as it could be over the past few years, with special thanks to the staff in Unit 3A at the Kiwanis Pavilion on Cedar Hill Road. Special thanks to Trevor McCall of McCall’s Funeral Home in Victoria for his care, compassion, and assistance in completing Jeanette’s final wishes.

The funeral celebrating her life will be held Saturday, September 5th at Telfordville United Church near Telfordville, AB at 1 pm. Hainstock & Son Funeral Chapel in Leduc are in care of arrangements. Call 780-986-2151 for directions.

As much as she loved flowers, we know that Jeanette would appreciate donations to the charity of your choice in her memory and would love if you would leave a memory here, and continue to “make happy memories” throughout your lives.

Condolences to the family may be offered below.

McCall Bros. Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com