Janet Manuel

My time on earth must be over, if you are reading this. In our society, it is uncommon, and feels strange for someone to write their own obituary. We read them for the facts of relationships, where the person worked, their pastimes and hobbies, as though these things define the person who has died. I want to share something of myself to leave behind.

The facts: Born in Cold Lake, Alberta to a military family, I was the only daughter of Leslie Ross Hine (deceased) and Clare Winnifred Hayden. Sister to Joseph David Hine (Pat Hyson), Philip John Hine (Debbie Desjardins) and Andrew Ernest Ross Hine (Lisa LeRoyer). We had a good and rich childhood, moving often as military families do, eventually settling, after Dad's retirement in Fredericton NB. I loved our time in CFB Baden in Germany in the early 60s before we moved back to Canada. Seeing Europe in a VW camper van was very formative to my life! I went to the University of New Brunswick where I met the love of my life Richard (Rick) Manuel. He went to Dalhousie to complete his studies, and not one to let a good man get away, I followed, studying at the School of Health Record Science, obtaining my diploma in Health Information Science in 1979. Rick and I were married in Fredericton a week later. I have enjoyed a career in HIM, in Nova Scotia and ultimately for the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Rick and I were blessed with 41 years of marriage, two sons John Hayden Manuel (Jessica) and Mark Emery Manuel (Amanda). Our great joy has been our grandchildren Arden John and Alyse Janet (John and Jessica's blessings).

My accomplishments really are unimportant, I only hope and pray that my little life on this fragile blue green planet has enriched, and not diminished, the lives of others. Perhaps my writing has been meaningful, as I have been reassured. All I really have wanted from life is to delight in the Creator's universe and my place in it. I have tried to do that on a daily basis, and am utterly convinced, and know, that I will be fully engaged in a new life beyond this one. So miss me, yes... but don't wonder at my final disposition...I am zapping around the cosmos, learning and delighting in it.

Death

Vision cleared, parted from the need to breathe

Ushered in by all the quieted souls

relieved of their questing.

Oh may I join them

Happy numberless assembly

immersed in the slow revealing

of all manner of things

with no end,

no end,

thirst quenched eternally

but never fully slaked

A whole universe to know

patterns and beauty and dimensions

and colours and sounds

senses unknown

only hinted at by our earthbound existence

our sad, muted sight and dull ears.

My mortal synapses, now I know

could never withstand the piercing sweet

rending of the veil

immersion in the very moisture of true nature

and return, undrowned.

May all the animals I have ever loved come to greet me! Probably the cancer finally got me. Please feel free to donate in my memory, to Ovarian Cancer Canada, All Nations Christian Reformed Church, or, to my delight, the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary in Campbellville, Ontario.

Goodbye Joe and Pat Hine (their son Daniel (Kelly) and grandchildren Cameron and Finley; son Chris (Sharon) and grandchild Clark)

Phil Hine and Debbie Desjardins (their daughter Shannon (Matt) and grandchildren Julia and Kate; their son Justin (Joel))

Andrew and Lisa (their kids Jonathan, Alyssa, Dylan)

Clare Hine (Hayden) Mum.

You have all been wonderful supports! Thank you for your love and friendship: Anne Van Arragon, Pam Snow, Rob Hutten, MJ Chesnutt, too many to list!

Edith (Manuel) Walker and Larry Walker (kids Tim (Sarah) and Andrea (Matt) and all grandchildren)

Brent and Joanne Manuel (kids Chelsey and Kristen) and all my cousins, aunts and uncles.