Janet MALCOLM

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MALCOLM: Janet (Nettie) nee Kirk. age 90, passed quietly from this world on May 30, 2009 at Country Meadows Care Home in Neepawa. Her daughters were with her. Born September 19, 1918 Janet was the third of seven children of Dave and Annie Kirk. Her father gave her the pet name of Nettie and many knew her by that name. They farmed at Mekiwin, near Arden and in 1922 they moved to the Wellwood farm. Janet lost her only sister Margaret, age 2 in a farm drowning accident in 1927. Janet attended Wellwood School and was a good student. She had ambitions to enter nursing but when her father took her to the nursing school in Portage la Prairie, he changed his mind and they both returned home. Janet worked at home and as a 'hired girl' in the homes of relatives and neighbors. She met John Malcolm at the home of her uncle George Smith when John came with his dad and brothers to work with the threshing crew in the fall. John and Janet married in January of 1940 just before he was deployed to Europe in WW2. Daughter Janet Susan was born in 1940 and did not see her dad until he came home in 1945 and they bought a farm at Wellwood. Margaret Patricia, March of 1946 and Constance Ann, Feb of 1947 were both born in the Wellwood home. It was easier to get the doctor to the patient in those times of big snows and impassable roads. Son John Richard was born April 10, 1957. Nettie went to Carberry and stayed with an uncle before her due date so Johnny was born in the hospital. New baby and mom travelled close to home on the train and then were picked up by horse and sleigh for the final leg of the trip. Nettie gardened, preserved, cleaned, cooked, sewed, milked cows, shipped cream, helped harvest and tried to teach her children all she knew. She shaped us with hard work, church attendance, 4-H support, community involvement and stressed school achievement. Pleasures for Nettie included three trips to Scotland, spring flowers in the fields, happy family gatherings, routines, work well done. Eventually Janet had seven grandchildren and loved to see them visit and bring their friends. She readily opened her home for a farm vacation for city kids. She was also an excellent cook, very protective of the environment and recycled with her own home - no need for a recycle depot. Nettie and John experienced a devastating loss in 1979 with the death of 23 year old son Johnny in a MVA. They no longer had a reason to stay on the farm so 1983 saw them move to a new house in Carberry where they had 10 years of retiree activities before John started having health problems. Nettie was determined to care for John at home but had to let him enter care in 2002 when her own health needed attention. Nettie moved willingly to Eastview in Neepawa in 2003 and she decided to be called Janet again. Janet loved Eastview and was loved by the staff in return. Her exhaustion was replaced with contentment and pleasure in every routine and program that they offered. Always a Scrabble player her game actually improved with frequent practice and she did 1000 piece puzzles every evening after others were in bed. She satisfied her need to care for others by helping those less active than herself. Her daughters looked forward to visiting her and each were enriched by those visits. 2009 saw a decline in Janet's health but she fought to stay independent and mobile and moved to Country Meadows with the closure of Eastview in April. Janet's daughters saw her fading rapidly and were with her as she departed on her last trip. Janet was predeceased by her husband John 2006, her son Johnny 1979, son-in-law Ernie Hilash 2006, her parents Dave and Annie, sister Margaret, all 5 brothers: Francis, Robert, George, Jack and Jim. Janet is survived by 3 daughters Janet Nicholson (Mel), Margaret Hilash and Connie Chudley (Claire). Surviving grandchildren are Pat Nicholson (Deanna), Bruce Nicholson (Geraldine), Susan Kaye (Colin), Marnie Hilash (Bill McLeod), Jody Chudley (Stacey) and Johnny's children Candace Nicholls (Jeff) and Carol Loughheed (Kyle). There were 17 great grandchildren. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Joan Kirk (brother Jim) and Heather Wood (John's sister) as well as daughter-in-law Pam Ferguson (Johnny). The funeral service was held June 5th from Knox-Zion Presbyterian Church in Carberry with Reverend Minho Yoo officiating. The urn-bearers were grandchildren Susan Kaye, Marnie Hilash, Jody Chudley and Candace Nicholls. Daughter, Connie Chudley brought her mother's essence to the service with the eulogy that probably had mom entertained and just a little proud. This set the mood for a special song, which was written by Remi Bouchard for the residents of Neepawa's Care Home, entitled "One More Song" and beautifully presented by the choir. Family gathered at the Carberry Cemetery for a committal service while the skies cried with us, but a bitter wind sent us back to lunch with the wonderful people that found the time to come to Mom's service.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jul 04, 2009