Tribute

It is with tremendous sadness that we announce that Janet Louise McCormick passed away on April 29, 2017, in the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. Janet died as a result of a sudden battle with an aggressive form of cancer.

Her family wants to honour the rock of our family. Janet is survived by her husband Darrell and children Daniel (Lisa), Jason (Katrina) and Jeneine. She also had six grandchildren Devon, Emmanuelle, Isabella, Matty, Madeleine and Blake, whom she loved beyond measure. For reasons that only she knew, these grandchildren had ways to get special permission to do things that their parents would never have gotten away with at their ages!

She is also survived by her father, Louis Peressini and two brothers, Robert (Gael) and Steven (Gail) and nieces Andrea, Leanne, Rachel and Denise. She is predeceased by her mother, Margaret (better known to those around her as Peggy).

Janet was born in Halifax in 1953 but curiously, if you ever asked her, the precise year changed annually and it always seemed to go down.

Anyone who spent more than five minutes with Janet would soon understand her unwavering commitment to her family. In good times and difficult times, she was always there with a helping hand or a piece of guidance. When it came to her grandchildren, there was never anyone more proud. Whether it was BMX biking or ballet, lacrosse or soccer, she was fiercely proud of all of their accomplishments and was always asking more questions. Her interest in their activities came a close second to her interest in their future. Before any of the children could talk, let alone sit in a classroom, she would ask them about college or university and remind them how important education was. She also had a close group of friends, who she loved spending time with on weekends.

Janet was never one to boast about her accomplishments. However, she was a trailblazer. In 1976, she did something that few other women were doing at the time. She began working at the Doman’s mill in Cowichan Bay. A sawmill was hardly a traditional place for a woman to work at the time. In fact, there were only three women working with her when she started and they faced many challenges in those early days. Undaunted, she put her hardhat on each morning or afternoon and punched that clock for two decades.

When she wasn’t working Janet would often be found in one of a handful of places. Janet was an unabashed Trekkie and would put down anything to watch any episode of a Star Trek program. She wasn’t picky, anyone one from any season or series would do. And she would have them all memorized. If there wasn’t Star Trek on television, well, that didn’t matter. She had a library packed with Star Trek novels.

If she wasn’t deep in her book, then that would mean there was a NASCAR race on. Some people really like NASCAR races, and then there was Janet. People would often think that Darrell was the real NASCAR fan in the house, but those people would be wrong. She had multiple satellite radio accounts, so she could walk anywhere in the house, or any vehicle, to listen to pre-race programs, races, post-race recaps or any other shows during the week. When driving herself, she could be directionally challenged, but ask her about any NASCAR tracks and she could describe the course layout, inclines, race history and recent weather patterns. It was hardly a rare occurrence to see Janet sporting her Jeff Gordon scrunchie or wearing her favourite NASCAR jacket. And if you ever needed to talk to her, good luck if you tried calling on race day. The phone would go untouched. Sometimes you could get lucky if there was a rain delay and she might pick up briefly!

Janet was an avid gardener. Her immaculately kept garden was a site to behold. She would spend hours pulling weeds, planting flowers or trees and making everything perfect. She set a high bar every spring for her garden and every year she surpassed the previous year.

In recent years, Janet and Darrell began travelling across the United States and eastern Canada in their fifth wheel. Janet had the trips meticulously planned out and she would have maps and itineraries and backup maps with backup itineraries. She took her role as co-pilot very seriously and curiously they often ended up at NASCAR tracks or near casinos.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the doctors and ICU nursing staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria for their tremendous care and dedication after Janet arrived in the hospital.

The family will be holding a celebration of life on May 27 at 1 p.m. at H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre, 5285 Polkey Road in Duncan.