Janet Gordon Cornelius

Janet Gordon Cornelius, née Ritcey, aged 82, passed from this life on October 8, 2021, in Calgary, Alberta. She had very recently relocated to Calgary from Gainesville, Florida, to be near family, and tragically suffered a stroke from which she did not recover.

Janet was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1939. She was the daughter of Murray and Mildred Ritcey of Cole Harbour. She is survived by sister Eleanor May; brother Robert Ritcey (Marj); nephew Peter May and niece Catherine May; nephews Kurt, John and Jeffrey Ritcey; niece Lynn Cowan, and several great-nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her former husband, Robert Cornelius.

Janet’s early and post primary education was achieved in Dartmouth, N.S. after which she attended and graduated in 1961 from Dalhousie University with a Science degree. After leaving Dalhousie she was employed briefly by the Red Cross in Halifax prior to moving to Delaware to begin her career with DuPont. Later she continued her career, again successfully, with Shands Hospital and the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. In 1987, Janet earned a Master of Science degree at UFL. A colleague wrote that her work there contributed greatly to “perhaps one of the most successful and proficient research programs at the University of Florida. I owe that success directly to Janet´s dedication. In addition, Janet was always known by both faculty and students as the person to seek out when help was needed in either research or administration”. Janet was also involved with another research program as principal laboratory technician and scientist with Ixion Biotechnology, a pathology research organization in Florida.

She loved to travel and was able to enjoy many excursions. In her earlier life in the United States, Janet and then husband Bob travelled extensively over North America by car and travel trailer prior to settling in Gainesville. Later, for enjoyment and professionally, Janet travelled widely continentally and internationally.

After retirement, Janet volunteered for several years, until leaving Florida, at the Natural History Museum in Gainesville. In recognition of her work there, in 2016 she received from the Florida Archaeological Council the Stewards of Heritage Preservation Award.

Janet’s main hobby was singing. She was a Sweet Adeline singer for many years and later joined and performed with the Gainesville Civic Chorus for over twenty years, serving on the board of directors for many of those years, president for three years and grant funding administrator. The Chorus presented her with an award for “Outstanding Contribution and Dedicated Service. Concurrently, for many years Janet enjoyed much pleasure as a member of a singing group, The Blended 5th Quintet, which performed for the pleasure of many in Gainesville but also for the pleasure of its members. She also sang in the church choir. Janet was a great reader and enjoyed her participation in a local book reader club.

Janet regularly visited the Calgary families of brother Bob and sister Eleanor in Calgary where she got to know and love her nieces, nephews as well as family friends. She was loved by all and will be greatly missed by her immediate family as well as her extensive “family” in Gainesville.

A private celebration of Janet’s life is planned.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.southcalgaryfuneralcentre.ca for the Cornelius family.