Janet Desjarlais

(nee Slusarczyk)

January 11, 1935 - April 16, 2022

It is with heavy hearts, deep sadness and so much love, that we announce the passing of Janet Desjarlais our beautiful Mother, Nana and Great Nana at the age of 87.

Janet was predeceased by her loving husband Leo, her siblings Teddy, Jean, Emily, Emil, Eddy and Fred and son-in-law Ed Marciniak.

Mom is survived by her five children, Dawn Marciniak, Russell Desjarlais (Mary Lynn), Cindy Schumacher (Mark), Darren Desjarlais (Renita) and Michelle Francis (Tim).

Janet was raised on a farm in Vassar, Manitoba. She loved talking about her childhood and the fun she had with her younger brothers, Emil, Eddie and Freddie. She also had two older sisters Jean and Emily and an older brother Teddy. From skating on the “creek” near their farm house to riding their horses, and helping with chores, mom always said it was a plain life, but a happy one. She and her brothers had quite the imaginations even building their own little community including a general store, bank, and even a liquor store. She remembered the spread grandma always put out for every occasion and said could still remember the yummy smells coming from the farmhouse kitchen. Grandma obviously passed that on to mom who would do the same with her own family.

Mom was at a dance in another small town 10 miles across the border named Roseau, Mn., when she met the love of her life, Leo Desjarlais. Dad was from a nearby town called Woodridge, where he was working as a wood hauler and knew mom’s brothers well. They met and the rest was history. They had five kids that they loved so much and were so proud of. Their first child Dawn, was born on dad’s birthday. A couple years later along came Russell and then another couple after that, Cindy. Then when Cindy was 12, they had Darren. Mom figured Darren needed a playmate so two years later along came Michelle. These two made the family so happy and the older siblings loved spoiling them! So many laughs with so much love. Mom would joke and call us the first half and the second half. Mom was a beautiful, strong, intelligent, resourceful and classy lady. She would get asked how she could be in such great shape after having five kids and she would reply that was why she was in great shape, because she had five kids. She was always busy taking care of us being such a great mom.

Mom loved to cook for her family and even once the kids were all married and grandkids started arriving, she still insisted on making Sunday dinner. She made the best cabbage rolls, perogies, and of course the delicious Christmas meat pies. Dad loved date squares and he always had a pan all to himself because he was the only one that liked them. Another reason she left raisins out of her butter tarts, us kids didn’t like them. After dad passed away, mom moved to her small house on Valley Drive and no longer had room to host big family dinners. Dawn, Cindy and Michelle took turns with the family get-togethers and you could always count on mom making the cabbage rolls, etc. As the family continued to grow, Michelle and Tim have taken over family dinners and celebrations. With their great yard, deck, huge dining room and table, great food and wonderful hospitality, it’s a fantastic situation. Everyone loves the get-togethers there. Michelle said, “I’m like mom was, I love doing it!”

Mom could not only cook, can and pickle, but she was also a gardener, landscaper, seamstress. She made drapes, the “best” Halloween costumes, clothes, even sewed Dawn’s beautiful wedding gown. There was nothing this woman couldn’t do. She was also artistic and loved to paint (horses were her favourite subject.) She could play the guitar and Cindy loved to sing with her while she played. She also loved working on home projects and became very adept with power tools, such as table saws, skill saws you name it! She made a shelving unit around the fireplace and benches which she upholstered herself. Later she took up folk art/wood crafts which she made and sold at the Christmas Arts and Craft Sale at the Inn of the Woods for several years. There was nothing this woman could not do.

We’ll never forget mom’s sense of humour, singing silly songs and also the kindness she had for all living things. She taught us when we were young that bugs were nothing to be scared of or kill. “Oh look, that’s just a mommy spider going to feed her babies”. The proof is in the pudding, all the kids have compassion for all living things, big or small. She and dad loved having her grandsons (Garrett, Bryce and Luc) when Russ and Mary Lynn were busy on a weekend or travelling. She loved taking the boys on nature walks on the trail to Lost Lake, teaching and telling them stories. They boys will always remember their times with nana. Next came Darren and Renita’s girls, Jaeden and Avery and of course their big brother Ben. When Jaeden and Avery were young, Nana would tell them funny stories, read to them and loved any time she got to spend with them. They loved to walk to Nana’s after school once she moved to Valley Drive and always knew where Nan had/not hid, the treats. Then of course we have Sydney and Leo, and Mom loved her twins so much. They were so cute you couldn’t stop looking at the little sweethearts. They took over the spare room that was Jaeden and Avery’s play room and mom made it special for them. She’d call them her twinks, her twinkies, her twinkles, which caught on and we all started calling them those cute nicknames.

While living on Valley Drive, she had the best next-door neighbors; Gord, Shirley, son Wayne and frequent visitor grandson Michael. Always looking out for her with Wayne bringing her baking, Shirley bringing her yummy treats and Michael always watching out for her and keeping an eye on her car for low tires, etc., making sure she was ok. Gord and Michael would help if she had any problems also, riding lawnmower, car battery, and lots of other things. Michael was so cute, he loved his Aunty and would visit her often. She loved him too and treated him as another grandchild.

Mom was very independent and continued to do anything she could on her own. Painting, removing retaining walls, raking leaves and even cutting grass at 86 years old. When she started to slow down, she would call on Darren. Darren was her go to guy. She always felt totally comfortable asking him for help. He did the wonderful job gutting and remodeling her little gingerbread house to what it is now. Mom and Darren always had a very close and special bond so it was fitting when she passed peacefully in her sleep with Darren at her side, holding her hand.

Eventually Mom had to go the hospital which was hard on the family, because of Covid, visiting was restricted and I don’t think she fully understood why only two of her kids were allowed to visit or worse yet, no visitors at all when the hospital was in lockdown. Especially tough when you have a large family wanting to see her. Between her poor hearing and early signs of dementia she did not completely understand all the rules that came with Covid. It was hard for her but she never complained. Later a room became available at Pinecrest and she was so happy there. During her arrival tour she was taken to the dining room, where she announced “Hello everyone, I’m Janet and I’m new here.”

Mom never wanted to be a burden or put anyone out. So many of the Pinecrest staff told us how much they liked her and said she greeted them with a smile whenever they went to her room. Finally, when her grandkids were allowed to visit, Garret her oldest grandson, flew back from Toronto and just stayed by her side and told her, “Sleep Nana, I just want to be here with you.” She was starting to get very tired at that point. He would just stay and she knew he was there. Bryce and Luc visited often too and brought their sweet kids, Ava, Beau and even little smiley Taya. Mom loved seeing the little ones as much as the bigger ones like Jaeden, Avery, Sydney and Leo. She also enjoyed it whenever Garrett could bring Harper and Theo along on visits.

Mom will be missed by all that knew her. She was a kind, funny and amazing women. Heaven has another Angel. We love and miss you so much Mom. ❤️❤️

A special thanks to all the staff at Pinecrest for the care and kindness they showed our mom every day!

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com for the Desjarlais family.