Obituary- Janice MacDonald
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Janice Eleanor MacDonald, aged 79, who departed on December 28, 2024 at Huntsville Hospice, following a hard fought battle with cancer.
Born on December 2, 1945, in Montreal QB, Janice(Jan) was the youngest of three children born to Clifford and Mirabel Jones. When the family later moved to the Toronto area, Jan attended Humber College, earning her degree in Early Childhood Education. While still living in Toronto, Jan took a part-time job at Maple Leaf Gardens, working as an usherette. It was here that she caught the eye of another usher, Dave MacDonald, who soon became her husband and partner for the next 52 years.
In 1975, Janice, Dave, and newly-arrived daughter, Heather, made the move to Huntsville. It was here that Jan gave birth to her second child, David, two years later. Through the early eighties, Jan worked various jobs around the area, and eventually was hired by Huntsville Hospital as a Dietary Aide. She remained in this position for 23 years, making many lifelong friendships along the way.
Jan was a very compassionate and caring person, always putting the needs of others before her own. She spent much of her life volunteering her time and organizing events for local groups and associations. Whether handing out bottled water to Iron Man participants, fundraising for the United Church, or cooking up a storm in the kitchen of the Legion or Lion’s Club, there would be Jan. She was also an incredibly strong and resilient person, able to calmly persevere in the face of adversity. Jan showed that strength through not only her own cancer battle, but through that of her son, David, who we lost to cancer in 2016.
Janice is survived by her loving husband, Dave; sister, Beverly(Don); daughter, Heather(Jim); daughter-in-law, Karrie; grandchildren, Piper, Lochlin, and Stella; step-son, Scott; and her many nieces and nephews, who will forever carry her memory in their hearts. In addition to her son, David, Jan was preceded in death by her brother, Clifford(Shelia).
The family would like to thank the staff of Huntsville Hospice for their compassion and care, as well as the many friends who visited and sent messages of love and support for Jan. A Celebration of Life will follow in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Huntsville Hospice or the Canadian Cancer Society.
