Janet Irene WHITELEY

September 06, 1933 - March 03, 2026

Janet Irene Whiteley was born in Prince Rupert and died in Duncan BC in the presence of two of her loving grand daughters. She lived in Usk BC with her mother, Alice Alta Cole, father Fred Rackow, and brothers. She moved to Prince Rupert in 1942 with her mom and brothers and lived there for 73 years moving to Langford to live with her granddaughter Ty-Leigh in 2015.

Janet was predeceased by her parents, sisters, Pearl, Irene and Elva and brothers Carl and Bobby Simonds and her two husbands, Bob Whiteley and Bill McIntyre.. She is survived by her sons Leslie (Cora), Robert (Annette), James (Brenda) and Stuart and daughters in law Wendy, Michelle and Jacqui. And by grandchildren Ty-Leigh (Chris), Merran, Erica, Bronwynn, Aidan, Chad, Brook, Jessica, Giles and great grandchildren Darwin and Alice and numerous nieces and nephews.

She graduated from Booth Memorial Secondary School in 1951 and travelled with the Jobs Daughters Drill Team to Richmond Virginia by train stopping in New York and Niagara Falls - her trip journal is full of notes about boys! She attended Vancouver General Hospital Nurses training for six months and then married in 1952. She started working at the "old" Civic Centre in Rupert in the mid 1960's where she was known as the "Girl Friday". She was proud of her daily five minute radio broadcast describing the activities at the centre for the day. After the Civic Centre burned down she was asked to work for the BC Ministry of Social Services. In 1973 she, with sons James and Stuart in tow, went to UBC where she graduated in 1978 with a BA in Honours Psychology. She subsequently earned a Masters in Counselling Psychology and a teaching degree.

Janet was a social worker in Prince Rupert as well as Port Simpson. As a social worker she flew in and out of Hartley Bay on seaplanes for many years and was a district counsellor for ten years in School District 52. One year she flew to a conference with "flying Phil Gaglardi" on a BC Government jet. She was the Director of the Psychiatric Daycare at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital and ran her own private counselling practice. She sat on the Northern Savings Credit Union Board of Directors and Prince Rupert Archives Board of Directors.

Janet was recognised for changing others' lives, many walked a different path after working through their emotional and relationship issues with her. She had room for and accepted everyone without judgement. She had incredible insight into who people are and what their strengths consisted of.

Janet cared deeply about people and appreciated different places and things. She really was special and known to some as a 'superwoman'. She deeply loved her extended family. Her pumpkin pies are legendary and no one can forget her acerbic wit. She admired Queen Elizabeth II, enjoyed reading, Hallmark movies, arts and culture, gardening, cats and liked to travel (British Isles, Europe, Australia, Mexico, Cuba). People were attracted to her because she was genuinely interested in them and she made friends with strong, dynamic women (you know who you are). She was a role model for the kind of person and the kind of an ethical caring life women and men could lead.

Much appreciation to the fabulous staff at Cairnsmore Place Long Term Care in Duncan. Cremation has occurred, her ashes will be spread at Usk BC. A celebration of life will be held later in the Spring.