Janet Isobel (Lyon) Grice

Janet Isobel Grice
1927-2021   

Janet was born on January 20th, 1927 to parents; William & Jeanie Lyon in The Pas, Manitoba. Growing up in the north with 3 sisters, Helen was the elder with Billie and Pat her younger twin sisters, was a lifestyle that would provide experience that would serve her well all her life. She learned many skills such as gardening, canning, sewing & knitting as well as helping her dad in his woodworking/construction business. Janet was the tomboy in the family.

Janet left school early at the age of 15 years and began working in a bank making her way from messenger (because messages were hand delivered throughout the town), to clerk/cashier. She was always amazing at math adding columns of numbers in her head. 
Janet met Alan Grice and they enjoyed many of the same things dancing, badminton and playing cribbage were things they loved to do together. They married on August 19, 1948. They began a family early in their marriage, Gordon was born in June of 1949, Glenis in September of 1956, Bob in January 1958 and Kevin in September of 1960.

In 1951 they moved even farther north and settled into the mining community of Lynn Lake Manitoba. Their first house had plywood walls and a canvas roof needless to say it took a lot of chopped wood to keep warm during the 60 below weather that was all too common north of the 56th parallel. They followed the mining community all of their working lives moving to Frazer Lake B.C. in 1966 and Hinton Alberta in 1969. 

Family holidays were often spent traveling to visit extended family in The Pas, Winnipeg and Vernon B.C. with a couple of forays into the U.S.  Janet and Alan enjoyed traveling and visited Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea & Fiji after they retired. 
During retirement Janet and Alan kept busy gardening and taking home made jams & jellies to farmers markets. Janet knitted toques, Alan made the pompoms which they sold or gave to the grandkids. She also sewed her own design of purses and lovingly became known as "The Bag Lady".

Even during their retirement they loved to move living in High River, Alix, Hinton (again), Jasper, Wetaskiwin & New Norway and after Alan passed away she stayed involved with the Seniors Centre until she  moved to the Paintearth Lodge in Castor, Ab. The children often joked that  our heritage must include some Gypsy genetics.

Janet and Alan were always firm believers in Christianity and church membership was important.  Later on in life they made an even deeper commitment to serving Jesus and held home Bible studies for years, touching the lives of many people.

After a short struggle with dementia and severe arthritis in her back, Janet passed away peacefully on Monday, March 29th, in the evening.

Janet was predeceased by her parents, William & Jeanie Lyon; her husband, Alan; sisters, Helen Bacon and Pat Ambrose; brothers-in- law, Clyde Ambrose, Jim Kneale, Art Beer and Chris Schmidt; sisters-in- law, Roddy Schmidt, Edna Dobson and Evelyn Beer.
Janet is survived by children, Gordon (Pat) Grice, Glenis Gauthier, Bob (Kathy) Grice and Kevin Grice; grandchildren, Clayton (Suzanne) Grice, Sheldon (Erika) Grice, Angela Gauthier, Angie (Quinn), Heather Grice and Robyn (Dave) and numerous great-grandchildren.
After a private family graveside service in Wetaskiwin Janet's remains will be interred in her beloved Alan's grave.
Family and friends may make donations to the charity of their choice in memory of Janet.

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