Obituary of Jeanette Solomcoe

Jeanette Solomcoe

November 12, 1942 – July 19, 2022

We, Jeanette Solomcoe’s closest friends, are saddened to announce her sudden passing after succumbing to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, an extremely rare and fatal disease. While she left us quickly, she will long be remembered for her brilliant and competitive mind, her fun-loving spirit, sense of adventure and her generosity. She truly was "one in a million". 

"J" as Jeanette was known by some, loved to travel and over the years, managed to visit most continents. 

She was an avid reader and could quote from a favourite passage she had read 20 years ago. Her home was stacked with her beloved books. On her recent two-month sojourn to Portugal, she carried an extra suitcase just for the books she wanted to read. 

J was also a consummate knitter and she delivered hundreds of warm hats for premature babies as well as the homeless. She also knit shawls for her elderly friends and baby blankets for the grand babies of her best friends.

J worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for 35 years. She derived so much joy and pride from being associated with the CBC's drama department. She always felt blessed to have worked with so many talented directors, producers, artists and crew members who contributed to what is considered Canada's golden age of television drama. Decades later, she would talk about her drama years as if she had just gotten off a shoot a day before. She was always so proud to have contributed to Canada's cultural scene and had the opportunity to work with such Canadian actors as Donald Sutherland, Gordon Pinsent, Kate Nelligan and Colm Feore, to name a few. 

After leaving the CBC, J filled her time with gardening, travelling and staying in touch with her network of friends. She never wanted to miss any adventure, whether taking a 10,000 step daily walk or climbing the great wall of China or volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in Malawi.

She loved to travel, dance, sing, laugh and drink fine wine.  But most of all, she loved to break bread with a lovely circle of friends. It should come as no surprise that the last picture taken of J was in Portugal dancing the night away.   

Jeanette was not close to her family, and in place she managed to build, over the years, a strong community of friends and neighbours. Never had this been more apparent when the onset of this disease began to take its toll on her. Caring neighbours became her guardian angels making sure that she didn't wander too far, that she was properly fed and that her health care providers were made aware of her situation. It was very obvious that the respect and affection that she had for her friends and neighbours would be returned ten-fold when she suddenly needed a helping hand. 

A special thanks also goes to the remarkable health care professionals at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto as they so selflessly provided such comfort and compassion for Jeanette’s final journey.

According to J’s wishes there will be no funeral service. A Celebration of her Life will be held at a later date. Donations in Jeanette’s memory can be made to a charity of your choice or do a deed of kindness to bring joy into your life.

Feel free to share any favourite memories, sentiments, or photographs of J here at her memorial webpage.

Uniquely entrusted to
eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc.
- Modern Funerals-