Obituary of Janette Lynn Wass

November 16, 1967– May 28, 2019

Janette Lynn Wass, age 51, of Grande Prairie, Alberta, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Janette was born in Hants County, Nova Scotia on Nov 16, 1967, to parents Robbie Maxwell and Evelyn Margaret (Huntley) Patterson.  She grew up in Nova Scotia, surrounded by her 14 siblings before moving across Canada to take on new adventures.  She would meet the love of her life, Ernie, in 1986, after moving to Grande Prairie and they would later marry on December 28, 1991.  In the fall of 1992, Janette gave birth to their son, Crossland Johnathan Wass.

Janette was a huge people person.  She worked for Zellers for several years and Safeway, where she made countless friends because of her kind heart and willingness to help anyone.  She was also a very hard worker and took pride in everything she did.  In 2003 she and her husband would take on their own business of a Sporting Goods Store.  Again, Janette would make more friends because of her way with people.  One day her father-in-law showed her how to sharpen skates and she never looked back, picking it up like nothing.  She was the best skate sharpener north of Edmonton.  Customers would ask for her directly and would not let anyone else touch their skates.

Anything Janette put her mind to, she did with great pride, quality and passion.  She loved her family and friends very, very much, also the time she spent with them.  To keep the memories around, she took up scrapbooking and now at home there are endless years of memories gathered in books with a story.  Then, out of nowhere, she decided to take up painting and again mastered this like she was naturally born to do it.  Her paintings are beautiful and she even convinced some of her friends and family to try painting.  They would have paint parties at home and other locations.  Janette was a social butterfly and would always worry about how others were feeling or doing even before her own wellbeing.

Janette was very proud of her family and especially her son, CJ.  He was the bright light of her life.  She always worried about him, wanted great things for him and loved him with all her heart.  Spending time with him and doing things with him was so important to Janette.  She wasn’t a real hockey fan, but she taught him how to skate, coached him in soccer, taught him a bit about baseball and so much more.  She was his biggest fan!  Janette was not only a great mother but also a great wife.  She also loved her grandpuppies.

She faced her greatest opponent in 2017 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  Over the next two years Janette demonstrated immense strength and courage and was always positive.  She was a fighter and will forever be remembered for her positivity, laughter, and kindness to others, even while fighting the largest battle of her life.

Janette will be greatly missed and remembered by her husband, Ernie and son, CJ; brothers Bev (Marcia), Gene (Cecelia), Joe (Gayle), Ferry (Janet), Eric (Kelly), Glen (Joy), Loran (Annette),  Darren and sisters Pat and Randi, mother-in-law Betty Wass, as well as multiple nieces and nephews, co-workers and friends.

She was predeceased by her father R. Maxwell, mother Evelyn, sisters Harriet and Vinetta and brothers Edward, Len and Clarence.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society www.cancer.ca. 

A Celebration of Life for Janette will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 2:00pm-5:00pm at Bear Creek Funeral Home/Richmond Reception Centre (11802 99 Avenue, Grande Prairie.)

Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780 830 7742 www.bearcreekfuneral.com