We are sad to announce the passing of beloved Janet Flanders on November 20th, 2023. Janet was born in Ramsgate, England in 1933, and grew up in a house overlooking the ocean until six years old. When the war started in 1939 the family moved to Canterbury. Janet and her older sister Barbara were evacuated in 1941 to Staffordshire, and came back home in 1945, to a new brother Llewellen.

She married John Flanders in 1954. They immigrated to Canada, and settled in Ottawa where they raised four children – Paul, Jane, Susan and Sally. The family moved to a farm in North Gower in 1968 where she tended myriad farm animals including dogs Franny and Zoe, nurtured a huge vegetable garden, and hosted epic gatherings for family, friends, the resident draft dodger, and John’s university colleagues and students. A collector of Canadiana Pine, she attended farm auctions armed with a tool kit to find hidden treasures like brass beds under layers of paint. Janet had a fine eye and a lifelong passion for antiques.

Post-divorce, Janet moved back to Ottawa. She met Richard Murphy while working on The Discovery Train, a mobile museum operated by National Museums of Canada, where they toured the country from 1978-1980, helping Canadian people learn about their history.

When Janet and Rick retired they built a log home on White Lake, spending idyllic summers with their growing family, welcoming grandkids Jessica, Alex, Fraser, Julian and Emma. They moved to Athens, Ontario to enjoy their retirement, and tied the after knot 25 years, finally ending up in Ottawa.

After Rick’s passing, Mum joined children Paul, Jane and Susan in Toronto, where she spent her last decade in the Beach, enjoying time with Paul, family gatherings with Jane, Marc, Julian and Emma, many visits from her adored granddaughter Jessica and wife Ashley, and became part of Susan and James’ family of David, Ian, Tessa and Jessica and spouses, going to weddings and baby showers.

Some amazing adventures were enjoyed in her final years, including a Bahama cruise, Blue Jays Spring Training in Florida, Mardi Gras in New Orleans and a magnificent Grand Canyon tour. She enjoyed daily walks on the boardwalk by the lake with her beloved dog Molly.

Janet was a true artisan and craftsperson, who spent her life in the creation of beautiful quilts, tapestries, paper flowers, and intricately knitted sweaters and dolls for her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an inspiration to her children, and passed on her love of craft and design.

She will be missed.  

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