On Wednesday April 6, 2022, at the age of 74, Janneke Baan passed away peacefully at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario. Janneke will be missed dearly by her many friends and her family. She was the loving mother of Roger and his wife Carly, dear sister of Wim Baan, Paul Baan and his wife Joke, Alida Baan and her husband Jelle van Veen, and Jan Baan and his wife Ike Spoelstra.
Janneke was born in Arnhem in the Netherlands to Maria Johanna Sophia van Helden and Leendert Baan. She immigrated to Canada in 1971, living in Montreal and studying at McGill University before settling in Owen Sound. Janneke spent many years teaching at Victoria Public School and Hillcrest Elementary School before enjoying spending time with her friends and family in retirement. She was a very social and active member of the Owen Sound community and loved to work out at the YMCA. She was an avid hiker and enjoyed hiking the Bruce Trail. She travelled broadly with her friends and family, enjoying trips to Turkey, Peru, and France, and returning often to her home country of the Netherlands. She was a member of many different groups and clubs, including a book club, camera club and choir.
Janneke was a vibrant, generous, and caring person, dedicating a lot of her time to helping others, including volunteering at the Roxy Theatre, the Summerfolk Music Festival and helping support Syrian refugees in the Owen Sound area. She taught us to be positive, patient, and resilient, particularly through her struggles with Parkinson’s and dementia.
Friends will be received on Saturday, April 9, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Tannahill Funeral Home, 1178 4th Ave West, Owen Sound, 519-376-3710. A funeral service will be held and live streamed from the funeral home chapel on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will be held following the funeral. Friends and family unable to attend and wishing to view the live stream may do so on Facebook @BrownFamilyFH or in the service details below.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be appreciated by the family to charities that were important to Janneke: the Bruce Trail Conservancy or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
