Janet Elsie Sawchuk

Janet Sawchuk, born Janet Elsie Hollingsworth, was born in Winnipeg on May 16th, 1941. She passed away peacefully on May 10th, 2026, just one week before her 85th birthday, which is today. Our entire family will remain so grateful for the compassionate care given to her by the staff in the Acute Cardiac Care Unit at St. Boniface Hospital.

Janet grew up in Winnipeg, and spent her entire life rooted in this city. After graduating high school, she began her working years at the Winnipeg Grain Exchange. Her greatest and most cherished role was as a mother. In the family home on Tamarind Drive in North Kildonan, she devoted herself to raising her family, creating a warm and loving home where her children always felt supported and cared for.

Janet was an accomplished painter. Art was something she did for herself — a way she expressed herself and her talents. Her paintings reflected her thoughtful way of seeing the world. She also loved to cook, and her signature meatballs and cabbage rolls became legendary within the family and were requested for every celebration.

Those who knew Janet will remember her gentle nature and her sassy spirit. She wasn’t loud or demanding; she had particular preferences, but was never pushy. She was stoic and well-mannered, but with a quick wit and a well-timed joke that often had us all unexpectedly in stitches. Remembering her humour has brought us much comfort in this difficult time.

For the past 20 years, Janet lived in her apartment in Osborne Village, where she enjoyed looking out over the city she had called home her entire life. She also loved to travel, especially to warm places with turquoise waters and a comfortable place to lay in the sun. She enjoyed trips to Palm Springs, Florida, the Turks & Caicos, and her son’s cabin in coastal BC. She could sit for hours taking in views of the horizon or over the ocean, watching the birds, and spending time chatting and laughing with her family.

Janet was predeceased by her husband, David, and her sister, Lois — losses she carried through the past decades with quiet resilience. She is survived by her children, Kyle (Julie), Sheri and her son Finian, and Jody (Susan), as well as her sister Diane.

Her children were the center of her world, and the closeness they shared is a testament to the love she gave them throughout her life.