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JANICE MARGARET PHILLIPS
Born: Oct 12, 1951
Date of Passing: Aug 24, 2021
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JANICE MARGARET PHILLIPS
October 12, 1951 - August 24, 2021
Although she had no children of her own, Janice spent most of her adult life caring and advocating for children and families caught up in the Justice and CFS systems. In her life's work, Janice was a leader, a builder, and an empowerer. She nurtured the people who worked with and for her and was their staunch defender. She understood the societal effects of cultural and social inequities and fought for social justice.
She was fearless, even in the face of death, and she did not flinch in speaking 'Truth to Power.'
Janice participated in her community and supported community development initiatives. She was generous to the individuals and causes she cared about.
She loved all creatures but had a particular love of cats and adopted many strays who lived long lives in her care.
Janice had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. She voraciously consumed books on true crime, ancient history, science, and medicine. She enjoyed her travels to Europe to visit family roots in Scotland and to experience the culture and history of France, Greece, and Italy.
She was fiercely independent, some would say stubbornly so, and definitely opinionated. She had a sharp, dry wit and was known to sometimes inject dark or crass humour into a conversation to overcome awkward moments or to throw you off guard... and topped it off with a wry smile!
She held lifelong friends dear and treated them like family members.
Janice will be missed by her brother Brian (Darlene); nieces, Jessica (Dan), Tara, Morgan (great-niece Olivia); nephews, Tyler and Graeme; sister-in-law Lilliane (Rob) and her forever good friends, Joanne (Pat), Debbie (Neil), Stan and Sharon and Rene (Shelly). She was predeceased by her brother Dale, and parents, Jack and Thora.
Thank you to the staff of Seven Oaks Hospital for caring for Janice during her final weeks.
A memorial bench will be installed in St. John's Park in Janice's honour at a later date.
Per her wish, there will be no funeral and in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to 1JustCity or a charity of your choice.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 04, 2021
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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I am saddened to hear of Janice's passing. I worked with Janice at first as a student youth worker in the early eighties and then as a co-worker in youth care. She was always very helpful and her honesty was appreciated especially as a student. Condolences to her family and friends. - Posted by: lenore carriere (co-worker) on: May 02, 2022
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Irreverent but balanced with a good heart. I met Janice as "the community guy who offered to shovel her walk" and later through the Luxton Area Citizens On Patrol. We shared the house with cats Orynch and Thosie, named (somewhat) after her mom. Once a week, the full page crossword puzzle would come out and she confidently completed it in pen! In about the same timing, a call would be had with one of her confederates to catch up on whatever indignities (or not) had occurred since the last conversation. She remained outwardly apolitical so as not to potentially jeopardize opportunities at her work by the government of the day. Janice tolerated the sunroom being converted into a music studio and enduring several years of my vegetarianism and found her own escape in many books, prime-time cable network shows, including the Shopping Channel and her interest in travel. If she had a choice, she deferred foreign settings introductions to her late brother Dale, who was more extroverted. We took two trips together, both arranged through the Globus company, first to Italy and later to include Italy and Greece. Pre-COVID-19, we got a first-hand impression of the cesspools and disease vectors that cruise ships would later be globally maligned as. Most of the organized tour was by coach bus and instead of watching the scenery and putting up with the inane behavior of our fellow tour mates, I often opted for having my head in a Kakuro book, and instead of admonishing me (though maybe a little bit), she was content to just ride out the tour. She was good at picking her battles that way. She will be sadly missed. - Posted by: John Wilmot (ex-husband) on: Sep 07, 2021
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Brian my condolences to you and your family on the loss of your dear sister Janice. She sounds like a wonderful person and a truely caring person. jill Palmer nee McWhinney (friend/co worker in the 1980s from the Reservations dept. Via Rail Canada) - Posted by: Jill Palmer nee McWhinney (Friend of Brian from Via Rail Reservations dept) on: Sep 04, 2021