Jeanette Munroe

Munroe, Jeanette (née Dériger)

1920-2019

On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, Jeanette quietly passed away with family by her side finally free from her struggles with dementia. Predeceased by her husband of 31 years Charles "Mac" Munroe. Dear mother of Joanna (Wayne) Luciano. Proud grandmother to Charles "Chuck" (Dee Dee) Luciano, Paul (Kimberly) Luciano and two great-grandchildren Jack and Karlee. Predeceased by her brother Louis Dériger.

Jeanette was born in Ottawa on November 27, 1920 and where she lived for the first ten years of her life. She attended school at the Sisters of Charity Convent and learned to play piano - an enjoyment she would resume again later in her life on an electric organ.

In the early 1930’s she and her mother moved to Cornwall and after school, Jeanette helped at her mother’s hair salon. A few years later, they moved back to Ottawa and began a new beauty shop named, Jeanette’s Salon on Somerset Street near Bank.

During this time Jeanette met Mac. He was serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force Police and stationed at Gander. By 1945 he was based in Hamilton and on April 9, 1945, they were married by the chaplain. A year later they made their home in Ottawa and were married for 31 years until Mac’s passing in 1976. Jeanette never ceased loving and missing Mac.

Besides their lives with friends, family and common interests, they had wonderful and memorable times at the cottage. It was a place of much enjoyment, getting together with friends, the Munroe family, and of course her brother Louis who taught most of us to water-ski and others how to square-dance. The Munroe parties were famous at the lake and sometimes, Louis could talk Jeanette into showing how, as youngsters, they danced together in competitions.

Later bringing them unending happiness, love and affection in the summer months at the lake were the times with their two grandsons Chuck and Paul – she was their second mother. When the boys married, Kimmie and Dee Dee became her special grand-daughters. Then later with great-grandchildren Jack and Karlee, we could see that special smile captured in photographs when she posed with them.

Jeanette recognized the joys in her life. Early on she learned the skills of dress-making from her mother and became an excellent seamstress often re-designing a dress pattern. As she became more confident with her talent, she made many special occasion dresses for herself, family, and friends and that included men’s shirts, jackets, and children’s clothes. She loved to knit, embroider and learned other needle craft.

Jeanette had many good, close friends with whom she shared so much. Some were long-standing friends; others came into her life in later years. With her extended family, the Munroe’s, she formed special bonds with her sisters-in-law. All were enriched with good food, and animated conversation over dinner. One of Jeanette’s favourite recipes for guests and a favourite to all the family were her tourtières.

Jeanette did some travelling in retirement years and spent a few cold winters in Florida and a few trips with Joanna. She attended the wedding of a godchild in England, had an unforgettable holiday in Portugal with a good friend with whom she worked at Bell Canada and took trips across Canada from Halifax to Vancouver to visit family and friends.

Always adventurous, daring and willing to try anything, she enjoyed fast-drives in Wayne’s cars, or Chuck’s motorcycle and tried riding Paul’s Honda 50cc minibike on her own and had a minor crash into the side of the cottage, but she never fell or broke a bone. She loved rides in fast boats, water-skied through to her late 60’s and tried a scooter in her 80’s.

Always a fighter with spunk and a sense of fairness, she could see both sides of a situation. In the end if at odds with something, she would say, “Oh what the hell!”

At times in the last year even with her advanced dementia, there were two things Mum often said, “I love you too”, and even when she could hardly speak words, she said very clearly this past April, “Is there anything I can do for you?”

Greater than the sorrow from her death is the joy she gave and that wide smile she shared in her life. Her wisdom and love will continue to influence each of us and we will remember.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday June 8th, 11am St. Mary's Church, 28 Hawthorne Ave, Carleton Place, followed by a light lunch at 215 Gardiner Shore Rd. Carleton Place. No flowers please, rather donations to the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

We want to express our warmest and deepest gratitude and acknowledge the Almonte Fairview Manor and staff. In the five years Mum lived at the Manor in Maple Grove, every person assisted with extraordinary care and attention and helped us carry the pain of losing a loved one to Alzheimer's disease. Thank you.