Janice Irene Shaw

The world has lost a beautiful and free spirit. Janice Shaw passed away at the age of 70 on September 7, 2022. She left us peacefully and courageously with no fear, knowing just how much she was loved in this world.

Janice was born in 1952 in Niagara Falls, USA to her late father Bert Shaw and mother Alice Shaw, who survives her. She is also survived by her brother David Shaw, her husband John deVroome and her three sons: Joshua Shaw, Matthew deVroome, and Justin deVroome. Her grandchildren, who she loved dearly, also survive her: Savannah Shaw, Mia Shaw, Isaac deVroome, and Scout deVroome.

Janice lived a full and exciting life with many beautiful chapters that included her younger years as a devout Christian, her hippy years in Killaloe in the mid-seventies, travelling around the world, working at Thunderchild reservation in Saskatchewan, meeting the father of her son at the Tassahara Buddhist monastery, returning to Canada to have Joshua, becoming a social worker, celebrating and partying with her husband John, raising a family together, and spending her retired life at her two happiest places — her cottage at Charlotte Lake and the beach in Fort Myers.

Janice was fun, carefree, and completely non-judgemental, which made her exceptionally good in her career as a social worker with children and adolescents. She was playful, yet took kids seriously, a combination that made her very popular with the children she counselled. She was the favourite of all her friends’ children as well, many who she developed friendships with as the years went on.

Janice was a deeply intuitive, spiritual and curious person, which led her to explore different perspectives and look for deeper connections and meanings in the universe. She was an explorer and loved Astrology and Tarot which naturally resonated with her open and loving nature.

Janice will be greatly missed by all those who were lucky enough to develop deep and meaningful friendships with her. She preferred thoughtful conversations that sparked her intellectual, spiritual and philosophical nature — part of the reason why she had such strong friendships.

Janice adored her son Josh and her granddaughter Savannah, who she referred to as her kindred spirit. She lives on through both of them in the lessons she has left on the true nature of unconditional love. She will be missed immensely, but we are at peace knowing she lived a truly amazing life, impacted so many, and welcomed sailing off into the mystic.

Friends are invited to say a final goodbye at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home 1411 Hunt Club Road, Ottawa, ON on Friday September 23rd, 2022. Visitation is from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm, followed by a ceremony at 3:00 pm. The ceremony can also be viewed live or for replay at https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/60942. A reception will be held to celebrate Janice’s life after the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers or donations the family requests that people do a random act of kindness in her honour.