Obituary of Janice Rose Delaney
A kind, caring, loving, and gentle woman, Janice Rose Sears Delaney, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2024 at St. Vincent’s Nursing home in Halifax from Alzheimer’s Disease. Although profoundly saddened to say goodbye, we are grateful that Janice was able to live a happy and full life during her almost 88 years.
Janice was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, on June 10, 1936, to Annie Mae and Arthur Sears. She talked about her childhood there with a deep fondness. She grew up in a large and loving family. She spoke tenderly about her mother Annie Sears, who cared for Janice and her many brothers and sisters tirelessly and lovingly. And she always spoke with admiration about her father, Arthur Sears, who worked hard to provide for his family. Janice cared deeply about her family and her community, she was never loud or pushy with her opinions. She shared her views rarely and quietly, and without judgement. Janice had a wise and kind and gentle soul, a warm heart and a kind word for anyone who needed it, at exactly the right time.
After leaving Springhill for Dartmouth Janice studied business and then worked several years for HR Doane & Co. In Dartmouth, she met and married Jim Delaney and together they had three children: Mary, Anne Marie, and Brian whom Janice loved more than anything. Janice spent many years bringing up the children and when they were older she went back to work outside the home. She worked with the Sisters of Charity Halifax until her retirement.
Janice enjoyed being outdoors. She often told stories about “the pond” close to their home that provided so much enjoyment, especially skating and sledding in the winter. As a youngster, she spent many summers at Peggy’s Cove with her older sister, Barbara and other summers at Five Islands with her mom and siblings. She was a creative flower gardener and spent long hours weeding and keeping the colorful gardens beautiful. She enjoyed long walks on beaches, which were places of meditation for her, particularly Lawrence’s Beach in Port Hood. She was an avid reader and could often be found on the deck with a book and cup of tea while listening to songbirds.
Janice liked to travel and explore new places in Nova Scotia or elsewhere. Together she and her life partner, Gena, traveled Canada, from Newfoundland to British Columbia, to many US States, Cuba, Mexico, and across the pond to England, Ireland, and Wales. Given her family’s Irish background, she was pleased to enjoy a glass of Guinness in numerous pubs in Ireland.
Janice is survived by her life partner and best friend, Gena MacIntyre, who loved and cared for her during the difficult years through the progression of Alzheimer’s and held her hand until the very end. She is survived also by her children: Mary Delaney, Ann Marie Brousseau (Scott), Brian Delaney (Rachael Sheppard); foster daughter, Bernadette Murdock, sister Linda Oldreive (Clive), her last remaining sibling and beloved sister; Gena’s children Ellen MacIntyre and Troy Stewart, Darrow MacIntyre, Daniel and Denise MacIntyre, Maggie MacIntyre and Nigel Eyre. Also surviving are grandchildren: Hilary Brousseau, Alana Brousseau, Isabel Delaney, Taylor O’Hearn, Bea O’Hearn.
Janice was predeceased by her parents, Annie Mae and Arthur Sears, her former husband Jim Delaney, siblings Barbara Crooks, Sheila Sears, Judy Richardson, Mary Ellen Loiselle, Kay Manley, Cassie Ginter, Betty Walker, Graham Sears, Kenny Sears, Arthur (Mannie) Sears and David Sears.
As per Janice’s request, there will be no visitation or funeral services. If desired, a donation in memory of Janice can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Nova Scotia by phone at 1-800-6111-6345 or online at https://alzheimer.ca/ns/en/donate or by mail to: Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia, 112-2719 Gladstone Street, Halifax, NS B3K 5J7. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS, B4R 1B9 (902-679-2822).
