June 17, 1936 – March 12, 2026
It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and extraordinary aunt, cousin, in-law and friend to many.
Our mother, Alexis Catherine Janes (nee MacLeod) passed peacefully at the Saint John Regional Hospital on March 12th. She was 89.
Born in New Victoria Mines, NS Alexis grew up in Glace Bay, NS, with her five siblings, the daughter of a coal miner/blacksmith and a loving mother, (late) John and Margaret (Peggy) MacLeod.
She moved to Spruce Lake NB during her high school years, residing with her aunt and uncle Laura and Dudley Maffett, working at their gas station, where one fateful day she met her future husband, (late) Douglas William Janes Jr.
With slicked back hair, a dimpled chin designed in Hollywood and some bravado and swagger for the new girl in town, Alexis met Doug and – boom! – the rest is history.
Married in 1957, Alexis soon found another adventure in life, moving to the tiny hamlet of Dipper Harbour NB, bringing some new perspective to the Janes’ family who, if set in their ways, soon had to move over for some Caper company attitude.
She would soon become more than a wife to Doug, bringing Gina Christine into the world in 1960 and then watched Douglas Bradley arrive in 1964.
From dealing with her children’s invisible friend from Montreal, broken doors thanks to hockey sticks, and miles of travel to support her daughter and son – from Scotland and across Eastern Canada and the United States, she was a faithful fan to their pursuits.
With active children, it had to be a relief when Gina and Brad left home to pursue their goals, hopes and ambitions. And that left time for Alexis to shine. Speaking of leaving home, Alexis and Doug made a difficult decision to leave the Dipper Harbour life, bound for Westfield in the late 1970’s to start anew, opening their own small business and meeting new friends and neighbours, setting the stage for new adventure.
From golf to travel and more in Westfield, as empty nesters, there was another move in store, this time to Saint John’s West Side where they purchased a beautiful old home on Manawagonish Road, turning it into their own bed and breakfast. Even if you didn’t stay at Tartan Bed and Breakfast – hard to break those Cape Breton roots – people came for Alexis’ homemade biscuits and jam, not to mention a cuppa tea.
When retirement beckoned for Alexis and Doug (she also worked at NBTel, NB Power and Walwyn Stodgell Cochran Murray) , the cold winters of New Brunswick were put on the backburner, the two of them left for Englewood, Florida. Heck, the Florida experience brought news of a new phenomena for Alexis. Ever heard of Happy Hour? Doug was happier than a clam in a mudflat.
They enjoyed those Florida years, embracing the warmth of the sun and revitalizing them into active participants with some old and new faces.
Through it all, though, Dipper Harbour was home. They would return there years later to the original homestead, the home of Doug’s parents (Douglas Sr and Janet), the one where he grew up. It was there they enjoyed the company of their children and families, along with a variety of dogs from Cunucu to Rufus to Carleton to Sunny to Buddy to Sasha, to Sammy to Sully, putting up with the canine units (some would choose other words for Alexis and all those dogs). Story for another day.
Hosting family reunions that turned into much more than family members coming to the Dipper Harbour home over the years, she had a remarkable ability to welcome and accomodate all. How much potato salad could one person make? Plenty as it turned out.
The loss of Doug over 12 years ago hurt all of us and certainly hurt Alexis. The love of her life was gone, but she found strength in family, friends and made new friends along the way. A devoted wife and Mom – she was a Highland dance Mom and Hockey Mom all rolled into one – Alexis lived a life of facing hurdles, new experiences, changing dynamics and always had time for a cuppa, a biscuit and conversation.
The love of her brothers and sisters (on both sides) never wavered, regardless of time or challenges. She faced those challenges head on. Even when her health started to fade, she wanted a Cape Breton license plate for her car and talked so often about a return to Dipper Harbour.
A return home.
Alexis has found a new home and hopefully has found Doug again.
Home.
Again.
With her true love.
She is survived by her daughter Gina (Dennis) Wiegert, Musquash NB and son Brad (Shelley) Fredericton NB. Grandchildren Kailey (Nick) Dow Rothesay NB, Kenzie (MacKenzie Grasse) Janes Fredericton NB, Torrie (Kyle Murray) Janes Halifax NS, and adored great grandson Thomas Dow Rothesay NB. Sister Jean (late Stephen (Moe)) Butler Saint John NB, Sisters in law Karen (late Donnie) MacLeod Bedford Mass, Eileen (late William (Hughie)) MacLeod Lower Sackville NS, Ivy (late Ralph) Cosman Saint John NB, Isobel (late Gordon) Creelman Bible Hill NS, Marjorie (late Don) Janes- McCully Bible Hill NS, Linda (late Jardine) Janes Dipper Harbour NB
Predeceased by her husband Douglas Janes Jr. Brothers Jack, William, and Donald and sister Mary MacPherson. Sisters in law Dorothy MacLeod, Marilyn Campbell. Brothers in law Stephen (Moe) Butler, Jardine Janes, Ralph Cosman, Gordon Creelman and Don McCully.
Arrangements are under the care of Castle Fallsview Funeral Home, 309 Lancaster Ave, Saint John, NB E2M 2L3, 506-634-1701. Visitation will be on Thursday March 19th at Castle Fallsview Funeral Home from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. A Celebration of her life will take place on Friday, March 20th from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #69, 714 Wilson Street, a place where she loved to listen to music and dance.
If desired, a donation can be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
