Janet Wales

Linda Coy Join us in our celebration of Janet’s life. She touched each of us in a personal and positive way, helping to make our journeys through life more joyous and fulfilling. Reflect on mum’s life in photos, words and music. Re-live many of her happiest moments, listen to some of her favourite music, spend a moment with your own reflection and raise a glass and share a toast to the life of my mum, your relative, our dear friend.

Linda Coy A celebration of the life of Janet Elizabeth Wales in pictures.

Linda Coy A slideshow celebration of the life of Janet Elizabeth Wales.

Linda Coy Reflection - by son, Robert Janet Elizabeth Wales was born on 6th April 1932 and grew up in Five Dock, the only daughter of Eric & Nettie Seabrook and younger sister of Keith. Growing up in post war Five Dock revolved around family and the Five Dock Methodist Church where Janet sung in the choir, played the organ and later taught Sunday School. Starting school brought a new friendship with Betty Edgcock, a friendship that lasted their entire lives and continues in the next generation through sons Rob & Mark. Janet loved music. Her father Eric was a beautiful singer and piano player as was her mother, Nettie. There was always music in the home. Along with her brother Keith, she learned the piano. Janet played with great passion and with a knack for improvisation. Playing a recital in the Sydney Town Hall in her teens was a highlight. She went onto play the bagpipes with future husband Max playing in marches, highland gatherings and many an Anzac Day march in the city. Janet loved the classics, Bach to Tchaikovsky and the big band music of Glenn Miller and the like. As Rob became a teenager 70’s rock music filled the house. She took a shine to bands such as Black Sabbath who Janet can claim to have seen live in Sydney in 1975. She also loved Deep Purple and according to a number of Alloura Water’s residents you knew when Janet was coming and going as Deep Purple could be heard blasting from her car stereo. The family moved to Terrigal in 1964 where they ran a corner store opposite Terrigal Primary school. They later operated a real estate agency at The Entrance. Janet was an active member of Inner Wheel being an office bearer at local and district levels. It was an Inner Wheel world convention that brought about the first of many overseas trips to England with dear friend Noelene Ayres. Outside of family, Janet maintained a close circle of loyal friends included Betty and her husband Paul, Max’s sister Noelene and husband Bob, Rotary friends Doug & Noelene Ayres and Jim & Lois Fleming. Those friendships afforded both Janet and Max the opportunity to travel extensively through Europe, India the USA and other places, enjoying the best of life including a flight on the Concorde. Returning to the coast Janet moved into the Alloura Waters Retirement Village at Davistown where she made many new friends. With brother Keith & sister-in-law Dell and good mate Helen Dowling also living at Alloura many happy years ensued. Rob’s marriage to Rhonda brought more joy and a cherished daughter-in-law. Over the years they became very close with Rhonda being a constant companion during the latter years, especially at Nareen where Rhonda would often bring some Macca’s or sushi and Janet’s favourite, hot apple pie, that they would eat in the courtyard. Janet loved her grand children Linda and David. She spent many happy times with them as they grew up and later with their partners Dan and Shay and great grand children Taleah & Parker who she adored. There was rarely a period when there wasn’t a cat around the place. From pets such as Pagan & Millie to her favourite league team the Balmain Tigers to visiting the wild tigers in Ranthambore India to the cat figurine that greeted you at the front door to the cat paintings and pictures that adorned her TV room at Alloura. Her love of cats continues with grand daughter Linda who, like mum, is never without her moggie. She also had an affinity with the local wild life where she was regularly visited by a Frogmouth owl on her front porch and even had a Kookaburra one day fly down and sit on her lap for a chat. Even with the excellent care provided at the Village Janet became increasingly frail and could no longer manage on her own. This necessitated her final move to Nareen Gardens where she quickly became a favourite of residents and many of the staff, particularly Judy and entertainment guru Ricky with whom she enjoyed many long conversations. In the past weeks Janet recognised that her time was coming to an end and like all things took it in her stride until she passed peacefully last Tuesday 30th June. These past weeks have reinforced the old saying to me. “It can be difficult seeing the forest for the trees” from the many wonderful things people have said about mum. Many people have related their thoughts and feelings about mum and what a wonderful person she was. - “Always my most favourite Aunty”, - “the most lovely person I know”, - “you couldn’t ask for a better mother-in-law”, - “a champion of Inner Wheel and its philosophies”, - “Just the best cousin you could ask for”. - "An inspiring woman, grandmother and roll model." To me, she was always just, mum.

Linda Coy A memory from grand daughter Linda. I have many special memories with grandma. Some of my favourites are from when I was a child visiting her at Five Dock. I remember the orchards in the back garden, the magic hole in the fence to aunty Val and Uncle Eddies, there was always a cat around. I loved looking through the special photographs, ceramics and paintings that adorned the shelves, most had a special story, a family heirloom or a trinket from Grandmas travels abroad. We took walks in the park across the road collecting treasures and a special trip into David Jones in the city where we got lunch in the cafe. A trip into the city was so exciting, a whole new world! I remember her making me toast and blowing my mind that I could cut the toast up in to quarters and put different spreads onto each slice! “Why not have it all!” she said. I also remember trying earl grey tea for the first time and couldn’t believe there was another version on the classic black Tetley’s! There was always lessons about how to get the most out of life, she pushed me to get outside my comfort zone, how to use creativeness and common sense in problem solving and how to show grace and humility in every situation. I got lots of my traits and life interests from Grandmas influence. We both have a love of cats, traveling and a knack for games and puzzles. I also got my love of fashion from Grandma. She taught me about recognising quality and style. Grandma always made me feel special and understood. We just got each other. One of my final memories of her is the absolute dignity she held in her last year. Although her body was deteriorating she remained sharp as a tack, telling the nurses what’s what with her medication, telling stories and holding her head high through toughest of times. I’ve always admired that about her. On one of my last visits, she told me she would come back and visit me as a bird after she died. When I said “which one?”, we blurted out Kookaburra at the same time. Dan and I now have a resident family of four that perch on the clothes line and catch worms in the paddock across the river from our house. Ive been watching them while I eat my breakfast. I know it’s her popping in to say hello, showing off our place to all her kookaburra friends.