Janet WINTON

Janet Winton of Nanaimo passed peacefully on November 28, 2025, held close by her family.

An avid traveler, Jan (née McArthur) was born in Falkirk, Scotland on May 16, 1942 and grew up with a sister and three brothers: Bunty (Jimmy), Harry (Carol), Peter (Sheila) and Douglas (Anne). Even as a teen she was adventurous, traveling to the Isle of Skye, pony trekking in the Highlands and journeying to Majorca with friends.  Her world opened up fully when she met the love of her life, Norman, who would become her loving husband of 61 years. 

At the age of 22 Janet moved with Norm to Perth, Western Australia, where they welcomed their son Grant (Shelley). The family returned to Scotland and welcomed daughter Ann (Rob Tuck), before emigrating again, this time to Edmonton. Jan's love of new places continued as she raised the two small children in Belize, and later in Penang, Malaysia, exposing them to the wonders that the world holds, and balancing the safe with the extraordinary.

After settling in Nanaimo in 1987, Jan became involved in the community and worked with a great group of folks at the Bay, while continuing to travel regularly, including a short-term move to Barbados. Travel never really stopped, but by this point, Jan considered their Panamanian and Southeast Asian cruises to be "slowing down"!  Vibrant until her final days, she spent much of her non-travel time with her beloved grandchildren Kayleigh (Calum) Kieran, Ally and Ben, or with friends, or at the library, at Bay lunches, tending her flowers, reading, watching hummingbirds at their feeder, or walking with Norm.

Jan was the last survivor among five siblings. In the end, it took cancer to slow her down, but even in her final months, Jan was touring wineries in the Okanagan with Norm and all of their children and grandchildren.

Thank you to the wonderful doctors and nurses at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital's palliative care unit. Their knowledge and loving care helped the family share Jan’s peaceful passing. At her request, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Janet’s friends consider a donation to the palliative care unit.

Norm says he and Jan lived a lucky life, but we know their luck came from hard work and making the best choices for themselves and their family every time. Jan will be deeply missed.

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