Janice Lynn Fischer

JANICE LYNN FISCHER

Order of service

Family Processional Song:

"Always on My Mind"

Celebrant's Message:

daughter-in-law Jennifer Rempel

Lord's Prayer-

Sung by Mary Phillips-Rickey

Four Tributes from

long-time family friends

Music -

Janice's son Jeff on piano

Memories from grandson Ryley

Don's Tribute to Janice

Optional Song -

"On Eagles Wings"

by Mary Phillips-Rickey

Recessional Song:

"I Will Always Love You"

In Loving Memory

We announce the sudden passing of Janice Fischer (nee Tonn) on May 11, 2024 at the age of 74. Don, Jeff, Keith and Jen were at her side.

Predeceased by father Herman, she leaves behind mother Margaret Tonn (nee Fuerst), sister Maureen Annable, loving husband Donald, sons Jeffrey and Keith (Jennifer), grandchildren Lewis Nabelsi-Fischer, and Raven and Ryley Rempel. She is also survived by sister-in-law Donna McIntosh (Nick), a nephew and many nieces.

Janice was born on July 10, 1949 at St. Boniface Hospital, grew up in Beausejour and moved to Winnipeg in 1965. After graduating from St. Johns high school in 1968, she went to work for the Great-West Life Assurance Co., where she met her husband Don. They were married in 1974. Janice continued to work until 1977 when she and Don began their family.

Janice was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and the St. Vital Agricultural Society. She served on the Board of SVAS and enjoyed competing in its annual fair, winning many awards for her baking, crafts, photography and gardening.

Janice enjoyed curling in mixed bonspiels with Don and in the St. Vital CC ladies league. Her teams scored 3 prestigious 8-ENDERS. Skating, bowling and golf were other sports she enjoyed. She decorated wedding and children’s birthday cakes. Sewing clothes, crocheting and needlepoint; she could do it all. Beating Don at cribbage brought the biggest most satisfying smile.

Numerous ocean cruises & trips to Mexico and Vegas were enjoyed, but a European River Cruise to celebrate her 65th birthday was her favourite. She was Don’s able navigator on road trips through the USA and Europe. Annual family trips to Palm Springs and Falcon Lake were fondly remembered.

Janice enjoyed her lakeside Southdale home, watching and photographing the wildlife at her feeders.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Epilepsy Canada.

A Celebration of Life was held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 30 at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd.

Don's Tribute to Janice--June 30, 2024---

Four IS A Crowd

I first met Janice when I started work at Great-West Life in 1969

She was the pretty, friendly girl that worked at the desk in front of mine

We would get to know each other through work and casual conversation

We curled together in the company bonspiel.

I would occasionally give her a ride home after a late night of overtime work

We had some common interests

I liked this girl and she seemed to like me

I thought "I would like to know Janice better"

One problem: She had a boyfriend although Fred was in Edmonton studying photography

I learned Janice bowled Friday nights at Polo Park lanes

I decided that once done with writing my fall Actuarial Exam, I would make my move to know her better

I would show up at bowling, give her a ride home, maybe take her for a bite to eat

Nervous and uncertain, I arrived at the bowling alley part way through the evening

Janice seemed a little surprised to see me but greeted me with a smile

That night, there were a number of people watching the bowling

Janice started with the introductions

Don, this is my mother

Don, this is Fred

Oops, Awkward, Could I have misread what I thought were positive signals from Janice ?

Janice handled the situation with composure, gentleness, and a sympathetic smile

Janice, her mother, her boyfriend and the idiot from work, 4 is a Crowd

Totally confused and dazed, I disappeared into the night, wondering what the heck had just happened

Four Years Later: Janice and I became the first married couple allowed to work at Great-West Life

A Lady of Many Skills

Janice was A Lady of Many Skills

She was skilled in sports, baking and cooking, sewing, crafts and various games

She curled successfully in leagues and won numerous prizes in mixed bonspiels with Don and friends

She skated, bowled, skiied, and biked

She decorated wedding and children's birthday cakes

Janice made clothes for her two young boys and was constantly repairing family clothes

She crocheted and did needlepoint, including "The Poppy" framed over the family piano

She knitted toques, scarfs and stuffed clowns.

Her stuffed animals and blankets were frequently gifted to friend's children

She served on the Board of the St Vital Agricultural Society and enjoyed competing in its annual fair, winning many awards for her baking, crafts, photography and gardening

Most of all, Janice enjoyed beating Don at cribbage, which she did most of the time

A Memorable Moment Was Shared this spring

My curling team scored a 7-Ender, one short of the maximum attainable.

It was a first for me and so when I arrived home, I was excited to share the news with Janice

She shared in my sense of achievement

Then things quieted and Janice smiled with a twinkle in her eye.

Nothing said but a shared laugh as I knew Janice was holding back on reminding me of HER THREE 8-Enders

Family & Home

Janice looked after family and home while Don focused on a career at Great-West Life

She was always supportive and seldom disagreeable

Always caring

Always with a delicious meal on the table

She was always baking and tried to always have some chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar

Janice normally had a bedtime good-night kiss for Don

Travel Memories Were Many

Sometimes I would have to persuade Janice to travel

But once the trip commenced there was never a discouraging word

A 5 hour ride on a Mexican bus that had no toilet seats -NO Problem

Flying in Belize on 4-Seater plane-NO Problem

Sitting right behind the pilot for the pilots view of a needed landing on a narrow dirt runway-NO Problem

Running for a train in Italy so as to not miss our cruise ship-NO Problem

We also enjoyed many laughs on our travels

In the US, the whole family laughed as we drove with Janice's smelly runners hanging from the car antenna

In Italy, we laughed when our road rage "BEEP" from our Fiat Panda was drowned out by the BLAST from the target trucker

In England, we laughed at my tendency to activate the windshield wiper when trying to put our car in gear

Janice navigated through many roads in Europe and North America

One time she chided me for checking that her navigation had us on the right road in the Austrian Alps

As always she had us on the right path

She was a good navigator and an excellent travel partner

This February we spent 2 weeks in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Walking 5th Avenue, we discovered a restaurant with an excellent young singer. On the Last Night of our Last Trip we relaxed on the restaurant patio as that singer sang "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU"

Janice, I will Always Love You

Tributes from long-time Friends--

John Elrick

I have known Janice for over 50 years and I'm sure going to miss her from my life as we all will.

Janice was a kind, gentle and talented person. We did so many things together as couples and as families. On New Years Eve 1973 I was the first person to propose to Jan in order to jokingly encourage some action out of Don.

As couples, over many years, we formed successful bowling and mixed curling teams with the trophies to show for it. Jan was both an excellent bowler and curler. We also did many vacations together including time spent in Palm Springs, at Falcon Lake Resort, on southern cruises and on family camping trips. We remember and laugh at camping stories involving bears at Nutimik Lake and Riding Mountain National Park.

There are a lot of happy times to remember but I especially will remember our last day with Jan. First there was a fun trip to a local restaurant and then favorite games and conversation at Don & Janice's home. The joy, fun and laughter we all shared is the way I will always remember Jan.

Audrey Elrick

Janice was a good friend. There are so many happy memories to recall from all the years we knew her. She was a great companion on camping trips, cruises and other holidays together. She was easy to get along with and I can't recall a single disagreement with her over many years. We worked well together on our shared trips. Having two cooks in one kitchen was never a problem. She was always generous in sharing recipes. I will remember her each time I flip through my recipe file and see one marked "Jan's Recipe".

Jan and I also spent many pleasant hours together on the dock or deck at our cabin each working on a craft and chatting.

Jan, you were that irreplaceable thing-- an old Friend

Bob Elrick

Janice loved to bake and was a very talented baker. For years on the annual St. David Road Gang fishing trips to Minaki, she would manage all the food related items needed to survive a three-day outing. Every trip, Jan would bake a large batch of her delicious chocolate chip cookies and they would all disappear very quickly once the boys arrived at Minaki. There were never enough cookies. When the boys returned from the trip, Jan would always double check to make sure that all the utensils came back and were properly stored for the next trip.

Janice loved to talk to people and share her thoughts and was able to keep a conversation going for hours. When I would phone for Don, Jan usually answered the phone and to be polite I would ask "How are you, Jan?". Well about an half an hour later, I would finally get to talk to Don. I learned that when in a hurry, I should just say "Hi Jan, Is Don around?".

When Don and Janice got married, Jan immediately became one of the St. David Road Gang. When hanging out together, the five St. David Road boys would often indulge in a lot of give and take teasing banter. Jan fit in seamlessly as she could give and take with the best of us.

Jan was a wonderful friend and we were privileged to have had her in the St. David Road family. She will be greatly missed.

Lisa Elrick

My brother Kevin and I loved to spend time with Jan and always referred to her as "Auntie Jan".

We remember the special times we had with her and Don, especially the trips with them to Falcon Lake.

Thank you Auntie---- For the wonderful memories.

Bev Rickey

From the first time we met Janice, she always loved her crafts and baking. We enjoyed hearing about her latest projects and enjoyed sampling her delicious baking.

Janice spent many hours planning and creating tons of crafts, needlepoint and baking to enter in the St. Vital Agricultural Society fair. Janice and Don even managed to get my husband Don involved in the photography section of the fair. Janice, Don and Keith took their entries seriously and were hard to beat but it was fun trying.

Janice did well in all categories but excelled in the baking category, taking home numerous ribbons and prizes.

Janice also loved her garden, both flowers and vegetables, and enjoyed sharing her ideas and finished products.

As we've gotten older, too many of our conversations involved someone's health concerns but none of us suspected that we would lose Jan when we did. The afternoon of the day Janice ended up in hospital, Jan and Don, Joe and Audrey, Don and I enjoyed a great lunch and visit together. We then went to Jan and Don's home. Jan showed Audrey and I her plants that she was preparing to plant and then we all spent the afternoon enjoying games and conversation. None of us were prepared for what happened that evening or for the loss of our dear friend.

This still feels surreal and although Janice has passed, she will always be with us in our hearts and memories. We will miss you, Jan. Rest in peace.

Don Rickey – Friend

How do you sum up more than 50 years of friendship in a short tribute. It can't really be done.

What we can say is that Janice was a good friend and we do now and will continue to miss her.

Bev and I are part of the St. David Rd group of friends. The men in our group (Don Fischer, Russ Rickey, Robert Elrick, John Elrick and myself) grew up all within a few houses of each other - all on St. David Road. Over the years we all became like brothers.

When each of the guys grew up, dated and then married, each of our wives became part of a larger group of friends, the St. David Rd Group.

Our friendship with Janice began when Don met Jan and started dating her. I was honored to be Best Man at their wedding.

Since then we have bowled together, hung out and traveled together. We've danced, partied, played games, laughed and cried together. We've shared parenting ideas, joys and concerns and then even grandparenting tips. When the guys would get lost in their fishing and football conversations, the ladies would do their own thing.

Janice did a beautiful job decorating our wedding cake and each of our children benefited from a stuffed animal that Janice had made.

Russ Rickey - Friend

Janice had a good sense of humor and fun. She would compete with Don in photography, always telling him that her pictures were better and that she would beat him in the annual SVAS photo competition. Jan and Don introduced Mary and I to ocean cruising with a European Cruise.

Two highlights of that trip were:

1. Toasting our spouses with flutes of champagne and kisses from the top of the Eiffel Tower as the lights of Paris came on.

2. A timely visit to Rome and the Vatican that allowed us to experience the Pope addressing the crowd.

Numerous times when I visited Winnipeg, Jan and Don would put me up for the night and feed me well. Janice's meals and baking were always great. Janice always made me feel welcome.

Jan, I'm sure you are watching over us today. Thanks for your friendship.

I, like all of us, love you and will miss you.

Mary Phillips-Rickey - Friend

I sang at Don & Janice's wedding. She was a beautiful bride and they were so in love. We were all young and it was a joyful celebration.

From Janice I have taken a saying. For many years when I could not find a description, I would say "and what not all" and I smile and think of Janice. I will continue to do "what not all" and remember Jan.

Janice's Poem:

To Those I Love

and Those Who Loved Me

When I am gone,release me,let me go ...

I have so many things to see and do,

You mustn't tie yourself to me

with tears;

Be happy that we had so

many years.

I gave to you my love,

you can only guess

How much you gave to me

in happiness.

I thank you for the love

you each have shown,

But now it's time I traveled on alone.

So grieve a while for me

if grieve you must;

then let your grief be comforted by

trust.

It's only for a while that we must part,

So bless the memories within your

heart.

I won't be far away, for life goes on;

So if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can't see me or touch me,

I will be near

And if you listen with your heart, you'll

hear,

All of my love around you soft and

clear.

And then, when you must come

this way alone,

I'll greet you with a smile and say,

"Welcome home."