Obituary of Janice M. Rennie
JANICE M. RENNIE
September 30, 1940 – June 21, 2022
A remarkable 63 year love story has come to its end. With peace in her heart and joy for her family’s future, Janice peacefully passed away from a very brief battle with cancer, surrounded by her family.
In early January, her beloved Hughie passed away. This devastated her as she lost her best friend, soulmate, #1 cheerleader; essentially her other half. June 29, 2022 would have marked their 59th Wedding Anniversary. They were a team and belonged together. Now they are whole once again.
Born in St. John, New Brunswick to Max and Marion Tulk, her family, along with her younger brother Doug, eventually moved to Belleville and then onto Toronto. In Belleville Janice was crowned Miss Winter Wonderland. It was in her move to Toronto that her path crossed with a young and engaging Hugh Rennie. They first met in Teacher’s College and then went to work at Merrywood Camp for physically challenged children. This was the opening chapter of their love story. Hughie fondly called her his “Maritime Gal” and they were married in 1963.
Janice began her career as a Teacher for special needs children. When her daughters arrived she changed paths. In 1974 she began in real estate. She started on a Thursday, listed her first house on Monday and sold it on Friday with two offers! This was the beginning of a successful 48 year career of helping clients “find their way home”. Janice was a superb negotiator, as she listened more than she talked and her clients became lifelong friends. She was also an exceptional mentor to her daughters, Julie and Katie, who joined her in 1991 and 2002 respectively, to form The Rennie Team.
Her greatest love was her family – Hughie, and her two daughters, Julie Stanton and Katie Osler. She liked nothing more than being the center of family gatherings with her sons-in-law, Tom Stanton and Matt Osler, and five grandchildren, Madeline, Charlie and Allie Stanton, Megan and Cameron Osler. There was not a special event that went by without Nana’s presence and support. Janice’s love for family extended beyond the Stanton and Osler families; she was Nana or Granny Jani to so many others who fiercely loved her back.
Janice embraced winter weekends at Ski Inn in Collingwood and summer nights at Ren’s Nest in Muskoka, surrounded by her family and their friends. She shared a passion for travel with Hugh, loved reading a good book and relished her soak in a bubble bath at the end of each day.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Janice at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7th at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, 230 St. Clair Avenue West.
“I have been with them ever since that day. They can see me in the sun peeking out from the clouds, in the cool breeze on a hot day, in the feeling they have when they remember me and smile. I am always there. Just like the air, just like the water.” The Shape of Family, S. Gowda
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Janice’s memory to Wellspring Cancer Support – an organization of community-based centers for those navigating their cancer journey. www.wellspring.ca/inmemory. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.
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