Janet came into this world as the first born to Louise and Alec Andison. She was a feisty little mother’s helper from the get-go and was on hand to help raise her four much loved siblings Bruce/Robin/Scott/Neil.
Family and family history, were extremely important to her. She was particularly interested in her Scottish/English heritage as a result of her connection with her paternal grandparents. As a young child she visited her grandparents often in Cochran Alberta and forever that place held a special place in her heart.
Meeting her life partner Ken, when just 16 years old, was the beginning of their 60+ year life journey together. Rich only in love, they married in 1964 and started living on Texada Island. To be closer to family they came back to the lower mainland in 1965 and moved into a small 1 bedroom apartment in South Vancouver; the only place they could find that would allow their two rescue kittens. Their cats, Melody and Muffin, would be the first two of a long line of much loved rescued animals that included cats/dogs/rabbits and even an injured crow, over the past 6 decades.
1965 was a year of both joy and sorrow; they were thrilled to be pregnant with their first child, but also found themselves grieving the tragic unexpected loss of Jan’s brother Bruce in the tragic C.P Air Flight bombing that took the lives of 52 people over 100 Mile House. The birth of her son Kenneth Bruce in 1966 brought new love and joy to the family, followed by the birth of her daughter Erin in 1967.
The young family moved to North Vancouver in 1970 where Jan went back to school and became an Early Childhood Educator; teaching was her true calling! She worked for years at the parent participation preschool in Lynn Valley but ultimately began working with her mother, Louise Andison, at her private preschool, Chelsea House at Heritage in the Woods in West Vancouver. The preschool was extremely sought after and much in demand as its loving environment and excellent learning programmes built a legacy that the mother and daughter team diligently fostered over many years. Needing more space, they eventually moved to Cypress Park Primary School where Jan became the head teacher, and the business was renamed as Chatham Preschool.
Known for her creativity, warmth and humor, she was a skilled educator, and her style was legendary. From her home visits, to her circle times, to her ever evolving programmes, she immersed herself in her work. Her annual Christmas and Spring concerts were particularly renowned and a fantastic show was always delivered to adoring parents and relatives. Jan continued as the head teacher for many years until her Parkinson’s disease made it impossible for her to continue. She retired in 2007 and was featured for a story in the North Shore News entitled Fond Farewell. Over the last years of her life she could still recall, with uncanny accuracy, every student’s name and particular preschool situation. In fact she was speaking of past students and preparing for classes and concerts right up until her last breaths.
Keeping connected with family was very important to Janet, and when her mother moved from her West Vancouver home into Jan’s home for part of each year, Jan and Ken took over hosting important family events and summer get-togethers. These gatherings were always held in the lovely surroundings of their backyard garden, which she loved so much and happily shared with family, friends, and neighbors.
Predeceased by her brother Bruce Andison, father Alec, and mother Louise, Jan/Mum/GranJan was gracefully released from her body after living with Parkinson’s Disease for over 25 years. She leaves behind an enduring legacy and imprint on many including her devoted lifelong partner and adoring husband Ken, her loving children Bruce (Shelley), Erin, her beloved grandchildren Jacob and Justin, siblings Robin (Dave), Scott (Margot), Neil (Vera) and many other close family and friends.
Jan bettered the lives of immeasurable number of neglected/forgotten/injured animals by adopting directly and supporting organizations financially. In lieu of flowers, donations to her favorite charity - Critter Care would be greatly appreciated. www.crittercarewildlife.org
We love and miss you so much but we are all so grateful to have had the time with you that we did. Until we meet again GranJan XOXOX
OLLAND
February 3rd, 2023
So sorry for your loss. I am thinking of you Erin and the family and sending you my heartfelt prayers and condolences.
January 31st, 2023
Jan was ever present in my life as my cool, big cousin! As adults, we became friends and chatted often on the phone as it became harder for her to visit. She always had stories to tell and we shared many laughs. Politics were always discussed and her pride in all of her offspring was part of our chats. I sorely miss this vibrant woman who maintained her sense of humour through so many years of discomfort. I know her family is suffering from her loss but I am grateful that she isn’t. Love to you all!
Carol Andison
January 31st, 2023
Jan was always a large presence in the Andison-Pope family, a loud and boisterous crew who took me in as one of their own when I met Scott, and who I have loved with all my heart for the past 51 years. The tributes and photos here tell so much of her story, and she will, indeed, live forever in the hearts of all who knew her. This poem is one I love to share at such times:
The Ship
What is dying
I am standing on the seashore, a ship sails in the morning breeze and starts for the ocean.
She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her till at last she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says: "She is gone."
Gone!
Where
Gone from my sight that is all.
She is just as large in the masts, hull and spars as she was when I saw her, and just as able to bear her load of living freight to its destination.
The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me, not in her, and just at the moment when someone at my side says,
"She is gone"
there are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout:
"There she comes!"
and that is dying.
Bishop Brent
January 31st, 2023
A great lady who was like a grandma to all the kids in the neighbourhood. She leaves us with fond memories of playing in her backyard pool while she fetched freezies for the boys. A huge loss to the community. Rest in peace.
January 31st, 2023
WISDOM OF THE LEAVES:
“One Autumn day I was in a park and I looked at a very small beautiful leaf, its colour was almost red. It was barely hanging o the branch nearly ready to fall down. I spent a long time with it and I asked the leaf a number of questions. I found out the leaf had been a mother to the tree.
We usually think that the tree is the mother and the leaves are just children but as I looked at the leaf I saw that the leaf is also a mother to the tree. The sap that the roots take up is only water and minerals, not sufficient to nourish the tree, so the tree distributes the sap to the leaves, and the leaves transform the rough sap into an elaborated sap with the help of the sun and air and then send it back to the tree for nourishment. Therefore leaves are also a mother to the tree….
I asked the leaf whether it was scared because it was autumn and the other leaves were falling. The leaf told me, “No. During the whole spring and summer I was very alive. I worked hard and helped nourish the tree, and much of me is in the tree. I AM NOT LIMITED By this form. I am the whole tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continue to nourish the tree. As I leave this branch and float to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see you again very soon….
And after a while I saw the leaf leave the branch and float down to the soul dancing joyfully. Because as it floated it saw itself already there in the tree. It was so happy. I have a lot to learn from the leaf because it is not afraid – it knew nothing can be born and nothing can die.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
January 31st, 2023
our condolences to Ken &Bruce,and the immediate family, on your loss
January 30th, 2023
My mum was an awesome lady who will be sorely missed. She had so much love in her heart for all her family but especially for my father and her grandkids. Her last 6 months her body and mind had become a prison. She is finally free of that prison and has rejoined her mother, father and brother and countless beloved pets in the afterlife. Love you tons my dear momma. Xoxox
January 30th, 2023
My mum was an awesome lady who will be sorely missed. She had so much love in her heart for all her family but especially for my father and her grandkids. Her last 6 months her body and mind had become a prison. She is finally free of that prison and has rejoined her mother, father and brother and countless beloved pets in the afterlife. Love you tons my dear momma. Xoxox
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