Janice Kittle

Janice Joanne Kittle May 21, 1955 - October 16, 2022.

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, auntie
and friend. Lover of children, animals and books. Artist.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Janice Joanne Kittle on October 16, 2022. Though she lived with cancer for the last months of her life, her legacy will be the family she leaves to follow their dreams, live life to the fullest, and to laugh often.

She was born to Robert and Dorthey Cairns on May 21, 1955 in Ottawa and lovingly raised in Ancaster with her siblings Lizbeth (Timothy), Ron (Trish), Jeff and Malcolm (Cecilia). Some of her fondest childhood memories were made at her grandparent’s farm in Trenton. She loved to tell stories about her time at Brescia College and is a proud graduate of Guelph University, which is where she met the love of her life and adoring husband of 43 years, Steve.

Eventually, Janice and Steve settled in Munster to raise their three children Laura (Clayton), Maggie (Steve) and Harrison; a place they called home for 28 years. Janice possessed a keen ability to pull people in and build a sense community everywhere she went. She will be remembered fondly by a whole generation of families from Munster whose children she lovingly cared for as their “Tawny Owl” at Girl Guides and as their proud teacher at Munster Cooperative Nursery School. Several homemade and gifted Christmas ornaments from this time continue to be hung on the family tree each year.

Known as Nan to her grandchildren Vivienne, Beau, Brooks and Benjamin, she is famous for her great kisses, always being ready with a story and a snuggle, and hiding treasures to be found in the courtyard. To them, she was pure magic.

Her second chapter in life was dedicated to quilting. Starting from scratch, she built a successful business from her living room quilting beautiful creations for herself and clients, spending many late nights amid the comforting hum of her long arm quilting machine. She gradually expanded from a living room quilter to quilt shop owner with the opening of The PickleDish Quilt Shop in Carleton Place in 2012. She has gently guided hundreds of quilters, new and old, with colour and fabric suggestions, sewing lessons, and design advice. Her expert eye for colour and design paired with her gentle, quiet manner have contributed to the stitching of thousands of projects. We know that many memories will be sparked by a special piece of fabric, a thread, a pattern, or a color combination she suggested but especially each time someone is lovingly tucked in under one of her quilts.

Grief is just love and we’ve been preparing for this moment for 18 months. One day we will find joy in remembering our wife, our mother, our Nan, our sister, our auntie, our friend. Her memory is a blessing.

To her children, who are also perpetually covered in loose pieces of thread, she passes on her disinterest in dusting, who like her choose to find more interesting things to do with their time. She loved us the longest, the most, and the best and we will never forget it.

Janice always thought of others before herself and therefore her family has requested that in lieu of flowers or donation, that we each consider completing a random act of kindness in her honour.

A private family service has already taken place and details about a Spring 2023 celebration of life will be shared when they have been finalized.