Janet Fleming McGregor Robertson passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at Berwick Royal Oak Retirement Community, Victoria, BC. Predeceased by the love of her life, her late husband Noel (August 29, 2022). Janet was born March 5, 1943 in Glasgow, Scotland, the eldest of three siblings. In the early 1960’s Janet immigrated to Toronto, ON Canada where she started to build her adult life. She attended Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology and received her bookkeeping qualifications (graduating top of her class). For over 20 years Janet worked as a Payroll Consultant Specialist with numerous companies including Paywell Inc., TD Canada Trust, and St. John’s Rehabilitation Hospital (Toronto). Janet travelled across Canada designing, delivering payroll courses, and training many on the newest payroll software systems. During the 1980’s working with Berwick Ferguson Payroll Canada Limited Janet was a contributing editor of Canada’s first Payroll Reference Manual.
In the late 1990’s Janet and Noel retired to Victoria, B.C. where they quickly became involved with many local charities including Victoria Hospice (Janet volunteered over 1500 hours), Holy Cross Catholic Church, the BC Volunteer Grandparent Association and “the Victoria Newcomers”; where they were active long past “newcomer status”. Janet lived a full and active life socializing with old and newfound friends through many social groups: walking, golfing, playing bridge, and travelling the world. Janet always welcomed you with open arms, a smile, a big hug, and most importantly unconditional love. She always wanted to hear of your upcoming travel plans. Her travel advice being, “take a coach tour and then you can relax and sit back! And if you missed something you can see it on the way back.”
Janet leaves behind her son Scott McLean of Toronto, ON., sister Maggie Reilly (Torquay, England), brother Jim Reilly (Carol) and family of Philadelphia, PA, USA, her late husband Noel’s children Paul Robertson (Sharon) and family of Richmond, B.C., Lorraine DeCosta and her family of Massachusetts, USA, along with her late husband’s sister (Alice) of Dublin, Ireland and many of his nieces and nephews, and finally her adopted BC family of Mary and Tim Witoski and their daughter’s Meredith and Sydney of Victoria, B.C.
A Celebration of Life for Janet will be held on Monday, May 29th, 2023, at McCall Gardens Sequoia Centre, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC, starting at 10:00 am.
A recording of the service may be viewed by clicking the photo below:
In lieu of flowers, Janet requested donations be made to Saint Vincent DePaul Society, or a charity of your choice. Condolences and shared memories may be offered below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Karen Hamilton Kilic
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Alice MacIonraic Alice and family wish Scott and all her family our deepest condolences and sympathies and the loss of Janet. She was always cheerful during her many visits to Ireland. Will be sadly missed.
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JEAN HAMILTON I met Janet in High School and later in life when I immigrated to Canada. We became fast friends and continued our friendship over 52 years. She and Noel were a perfect match and lived and loved life to the fullest. We visited them in Victoria once and they came to Georgetown, Ontario on several occasions. Noel took great care of Janet, especially in the last couple of year. Janet loved all her family and had great respect for her adopted family Mary, Tim and their two girls. She often spoke of them and their interactions over the years.
Janet will be missed but not forgotten.
Jean & Jim, Georgetown, ON.
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Jan McKay Janet & I met through the Newcomers Club and we both joined in the activities including luck suppers with our spouses. We were in the same walking groups and did some golfing. Janet was the ultimate volunteer. If she was asked to volunteer she would do so without hesitation.
She will be greatly missed.
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Margaret MCKAY Janet and I were brought up in Glasgow and had lots in common. We met while I was visiting family here, and hit it off right away. When we retired to Victoria in 1999, I met up with Janet again and became fast friends. I was a little (about 1 inch) taller than Janet and we were one year apart in age. It was a joke of who was the “big’ sister. Janet will be missed by everyone who met her, she was one in a million. Hugs wee Maggi
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Jan Febery Janet was my much loved older cousin….as we always joked she was always a year older then me.
Sadly I had the task -after visiting her Mum in hospital who became very ill and died while I was visiting her with Aunt Mary- of ringing Janet Maggie and Jim with the sad news that their Mum had died as their Dad and her sister Aunt Mary just couldn’t do it.
We met over the years when she visited England with Noel but sadly I never got to visit her in Canada. We always kept in touch firstly by letter and then by email and birthday and Christmas cards.
Janet was a lovely loving lady and I shall miss her.Jan (Beryl- Betsy’s eldest)
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James Reilly A little over 70 years ago I became Janet’s ‘wee baby brother’ and she became my ‘big sister’! Janet lived that role for me over decades and despite many miles apart. Janet was always there as my calm, generous supportive and loving big sister. Janet found her soulmate in her leprechaun Noel and together they lived a full life enjoying friends, travel and supporting many charitable causes in both Toronto and after retiring to Victoria. Sadly Janet is now gone to be with her beloved Noel, but she will always be remembered and loved by everyone who knew her and she’ll always be my big sister and I’ll always be her wee baby brother!
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Barbara Smith Janet was a kind and loving woman. She lived a life of giving. She will truly be missed.
My condolences to Scott and all of Janet’s family. Janet was my Godmother. I am forever grateful for her and Noel who came out from Victoria to attend my wedding and be gift bearers at my wedding service. She was a wonderful friend to my mom Jean Hamilton and I have fond memories of her. I hope to live up to her examples of kindness and service to others. She will be missed.