Jane Alexander Maclennan DUTTON

DUTTON, Jane Alexander Maclennan April 9, 1946 - October 16, 2013 Jane passed peacefully, decades too soon, surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. She is predeceased by her father Dr. David Alexander Maclennan, her mother Gladys Lenore Babcock, and her brother David. Jane was born in Montreal, Quebec, but raised, and attended school, in Campbellton, New Brunswick. She was the only daughter of a dedicated surgeon and a hospital nurse administrator, both very active in their community. It was to them that Jane attributed her ability to connect with and enjoy the friendship of people from all walks of life. As a teenager Jane moved back to Montreal and entered the nursing school of the Royal Victoria Hospital. There she met and roomed with Beverley Blair, nee McLeod, the two becoming and remaining lifelong friends. Jane loved Montreal, never more than during the summer of Expo 67 when, as a young and beautiful student nurse, she embraced Canada's moment in the sun. She claimed to have visited Expo over 80 times. Following her nursing training, Jane found the hospitals of the time quite chauvinistic and moved on, entering the Faculty of Commerce at McGill University even while continuing to nurse in the surgical recovery room during the summers and on weekends. It was in the summer of 1972 that she was introduced to her life partner, a surgical resident from Alberta, Jim Dutton. Neither thought they were ready to settle down but within three months anything but a life together was unthinkable. They were married in St Hubert in November 1972. Jane completed her Bachelor of Commerce at McGill and began her career in the business world as a methods analyst for Dominion Textile in Montreal. During her husband's surgical residency she continued to be the major breadwinner. They collaborated on research papers, an MSc. thesis, and most importantly, their first daughter, Elizabeth Jane. A move to Victoria, British Columbia, to start a surgical practice, followed by the arrival of their second daughter, Jennifer Alexander, brought Jane to the career she cherished. All her skills, training and enthusiasm for life were now focused on the job at hand. She was a mother, a wife, CEO of the family firm, a nurse, a tutor, and a homemaker. Children were raised with love and consummate skill, her mother was nursed through her final years, a house lovingly restored, and a new and wonderful circle of Victoria friends built from scratch. Like Napoleon's army the Dutton family travelled on its stomach. Holidays on the ski hill, or in their tiny sailboat, Summerplace, were festivals of food and happiness. From her early days Jane had studied cooking, first in Montreal then in Paris and Tuscany, always bringing home exciting new ideas about food and wine. Entertaining friends and family at the dining room table was Jane's performance art and many wonderful evenings and weekends were spent enjoying Jane's passion for food. She also had time for others, serving on her children's school board at Glenlyon-Norfolk School, organizing interschool debating tournaments and, perhaps most importantly, helping many of her daughter's friends and classmates through the mysteries of mathematics and calculus and thus on to university. In her last year Jane welcomed into the family a son in-law, Rodger, and his marriage to Elizabeth was the highlight of the summer of 2012. Jane did it all. She was a runner (marathon - NYC 1995, half marathons, 10kms), a golfer, a sailor, a kayaker, a gardener and an enthusiastic world traveller with her husband and best friend. Together they roamed four continents often under sail or by train across vast distances. But most importantly, Jane was the rock upon which a husband, two daughters and a wealth of friends could depend for support, wise council and most importantly, unreserved love. Jane and her family would like to thank everyone at the Vancouver Island Cancer Center, the Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria Hospice for the skillful and compassionate care she received on her final journey. We would also like to thank our many caring friends. You made the unbearable bearable for all of us. In lieu of flowers Jane has requested that you take the time to enjoy the wonders of this life with family and friends and to get on with those things that you hoped to do to make this world a better place. Our time here is short. Support for the charity of your choice would be her wish. A celebration of her life is scheduled for Thursday October 24th at the Victoria Golf Club at 3:00 pm. Expressions of condolence to the family may be sent to jwdutton@telus.net.