JANET GERTUDE EDIGER

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Janet Gertrude Ediger (nee Neufeld) on April 25, 2023.  She is survived by her children John Ediger, Jill Simonite, and James & Michele Ediger, as well as her grand- and great-grandchildren Casia & Jonathan Schreyer (Nate and Jenelle), Sara & Larry Gratton (Genevieve, Estelle, Damien), Amanda Redden, Brett Simonite, Calvin Ediger & Karen Cortez, and William Ediger.  She was predeceased by her husband Lloyd, daughter-in-law Yvonne Ediger (nee Clincke), son-in-law Brent Simonite, and her nine sisters.  Janet passed away peacefully at the Poseidon Care Centre in Winnipeg surrounded by her family.

Janet was born on March 6th, 1939 in Agassiz British Columbia to John and Olga Neufeld.   She was the nineth daughter and fourth youngest amongst 12 siblings.  Janet grew up in the small Saskatchewan town of Drake, where she attended primary and high school.  It was in Drake that she met and fell in love with Lloyd, whom she married on July 24, 1958.  She and Lloyd moved to Winnipeg where she completed a degree in Medical Records Administration.  Her primary career was within the healthcare field as a medical records librarian with positions at the Women’s Hospital and the Manitoba Cancer Foundation in Winnipeg.

Janet had a loving spirit and greatly adored caring for young children.  As an adolescent, she was often given the responsibility of babysitting her nieces and nephews when her older sisters came home to visit.  Later in life, during a break in her career, she and Lloyd provided foster care for infants in Winnipeg, and continued to maintain contact with these children and their families after they left her care.  After retiring, Janet provided child care for all of her grandchildren when they were toddlers.  In later years, she relished every opportunity she had to spend time with her great grandchildren. 

Janet had many passions.  She was an avid crafter who enjoyed knitting, crochet, needlepoint, and embroidery.  She also enjoyed completing jigsaw puzzles and spent many an evening with her children and grandchildren huddled around a card table working on the latest puzzle.  She was an avid sports fan who enjoyed cheering on the Bombers, Jets, and Toronto Blue Jays. 

Janet loved music and was a talented pianist.  When family came to visit from out of town, it was inevitable that everyone would end up singing old hymns (and of course, a few Elvis tunes) while Janet played piano.  When she wasn’t playing the piano, electric keyboard, or autoharp, she was listening to selections from her vast library of albums which spanned the range of genres from classical to gospel to contemporary pop.      

Perhaps Janet’s greatest passion was for reading and learning, and she was always surrounded by books.  She had a broad range of interests and enjoyed reading both non-fiction - particularly history, world affairs, and biographies - and fiction, with her favorites being mystery, crime, and the occasional romance.   Even when she was no longer able to read herself, she enjoyed having books around to look at and for others to read to her. 

Janet was an amazing person who was loved by many.  She was admired for her broad-ranging knowledge of many things, her down-to-earth perspective, and sage wisdom that always seemed beyond her years.  She was kind, loving, and compassionate and expressed this in her relationships with her family and her friends.  She made everyone feel that they were special.   And she was funny; she had a very keen and wry sense of humour which made her a favourite amongst her many nieces and nephews.  Even in her last few days she was able to make us laugh with her knowing looks and expressive eyes.  We will miss so many things about her.

In accordance with Janet’s wishes, cremation has taken place and Janet’s remains will be interred beside those of Lloyd, the love of her life, in a private ceremony. 

The family is planning an informal Celebration of Life for Sunday July 9, 2023. 

If desired, donations can be made in Janet’s memory to CancerCare Manitoba.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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