Janine E. Moore

Janine E. Moore

January 23, 1974 – January 6, 2021

It is with great sadness that the family of Janine Elaine Moore announces her passing after a brave battle with cancer, on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at the age of 46 years. 

Answering the phone with her catchphrase, “Hey, what’cha doin?” That cheerful voice had me believe Janine genuinely loved her life, despite the obstacles she was forced to deal with.

In the town of Heywood, a suburb of Manchester in England on January 23, 1974, Janine Elaine Moore was born to Brian and Sylvia Moore.  Then in 1975, alongside her family, she immigrated to Canada with their first home being on Montreal Ave in Saskatoon. Let me tell you; that first home she took much delight in running away at every opportunity. At that time in her life her role seemed to be keeping the local cop shop quite busy, and scaring the crap out of her parents. She became quite popular in her new neighborhood earning the title “the little runaway.”

In 1979, the family moved to Dalmeny, a suburb of Saskatoon where Janine started grade 1 at Dalmeny elementary school.  Shortly thereafter, on November 29, 1979, her mother passed away of a brain aneurism. Her young life would not be that easy from that point forward, as she struggled with her loss it took her down a path of a rebellious teenager, one with a fierce independence and a spirit of survival.

In time she pulled it together, attended college and became both a legal secretary and a Notary Public.  Janine was later hired by a law firm, a job she loved and with a growing passion for the legal system, decided she would put herself through University and become a lawyer. To make this goal possible she made extra income building websites and saved.  She was so proud of her accomplishments, and her ambition to make a great life for her and her son grew.  Opinionated, talkative and passionate, she had the makings of a great lawyer – one most would not want to butt heads with.

Apart from her career in law, Janine’s biggest accomplishment in life was her son Jayke and her biggest regret was not being able to raise him.

December 09, 2002 Janine’s life made a major pivot. While at her place of work she suffered a massive brain aneurism. By the time the ambulance got her to the University Hospital, the left side of her brain was badly damaged. The damage was permanent and tissue had to be removed, causing the loss of control for most of the right side of her body and her ability to read or write was gone forever. From that point on; when she looked at numbers and letters, she saw only pixels like a TV gone wrong. The full sentences that were in her head could no longer be spoken, and she became trapped in her own head. She was only able to express the key one or two words to a thought, yet her mind remained as sharp as ever and she understood every word you said to her.

Over the next 18 years of her life, conversations would go like this;

Janine:  “Coffee”

Karen:  “you need some coffee?”

Janine: “no, uh phone, coffee” frustration creeping in her voice.

Karen:  “OK, take your time, no rush.”

Janine: “Phone, coffee”

Karen:  “Is your coffee machine not working?”

In the end, turned out she had spilled coffee on her phone and it needed to be replaced.

Life with Janine now was like having a game of charades, nevertheless, we usually figured it out.

One time I mailed her clothes that had buttons and zippers. I can still hear her now; “Karen, one hand!!!” frustration mixed with laughter” I guess a bra with a clasp is not appropriate either, sorry Kiddo.”

I would say to her, “jeez, I can tell you anything I like and know you can never repeat it to anyone”; we would laugh at this also. Her sense of humor was in her till her last weeks, helping us all face the situation she faced. When she knew she was dying, we told her, in heaven she would be able to have a proper conversation and read a book again.

Janine’s relationship with her father certainly had its ups and downs, both locking horns at times but in the end, particularly the last years of her life, they put their differences aside and became closer than they had ever been. “Nice Guy” she would say, referencing her Father, grateful for the time spent together.

Janine spent the last several years of her life at McAskill Manor, at Ave W and 20^th St in Saskatoon, where she made many good friends.  Moses, who looked after her when he could, Harry, who would stop in and check on her often. Her best friend Dallas and her social worker Richelle, Janine’s power team, both with a selfless dedication to my sister.  They attended many hospital appointments during her cancer treatments, being a wonderful resource for those that could not be close at hand.  The Friesen family; Jake and Clara, along with their daughters Shannon and Helene, helping to raise her after her Mom died.  Janine and our family are so grateful for their contribution to her life.

In the end it was a life worth living; a life full of smiles, tears and maybe a little swearing.  She accepted her life and lived it, making all that knew her better people for knowing her!

Janine will be lovingly remembered by her father and step mother, Brian and Betty Moore; her siblings Karen Moore and Sam Moore; and her son Jayke Moore. Janine will also be forever remembered by her nephews and extended family and her dear friends. 

Janine was predeceased by her mother Sylvia Ann Moore. 

In lieu of flowers those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Janine to The Cancer Society.  The family would like to thank all of the doctors and nurses at RUH and SCH for their wonderful care.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Katrina Funk at Dalmeny Funeral Home 306-254-2022.