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Janet Elizabeth (Dinsmore) Roberts (1955-2025) passed away peacefully on November 24, 2025, at Hill House Hospice in Richmond Hill. She was a central figure in her family, her friends, and her community.  Janet grew up in Windsor, Ontario, part of a close-knit family of six, along with her parents Barbara and Jim, her brothers Jeff and Greg, and her sister Ann.

Janet's work in hospitals in Windsor, Toronto and Markham showed talent, leadership, and devotion to those who depended on her. She managed the Wellesley Hospital's Burn Unit; taught nursing at Centennial College; played a key role in implementing electronic health records in Canada; and helped open Markham Stouffville Hospital--a place where she eventually made her mark as Vice-President. In 2003, as the Toronto SARS outbreak hit Markham Stouffville Hospital hard, Janet rose to the occasion, helping guide the organization through that difficult time.

As a wife to John (who she married in 1984), and mother to Cameron (1987) and Ian (1990), Janet shone.  With John away on business, she could navigate stressful weekday evenings, balancing errands, extracurriculars and homework crises, while cooking healthy and tasty meals. The family had fun on these nights, not merely in spite of these challenges but often because of them. When she was studying for her master’s degree at the same time that Ian was finishing High School, they capped off their study sessions with popcorn and an episode of *ER*.  Janet and John never failed to stay close. Most evenings, they could be seen in the neighbourhood streets, walking the family dog Kayleigh and talking about their day.

Janet was organizer-in-chief of her family and was endlessly creative at finding ways to make things more fun.  She would sometimes painstakingly hide the vacation preparations so that the departure could be a complete surprise to Ian and Cameron. Together, the family explored much of Canada: winter on the ski slopes and summer in Muskoka lakes. On one such trip, Janet was a dockside hair salon stylist. To rinse the bleach off, just dive in the lake! (Make sure you close your eyes really hard).

Janet used the backyard to host to a string of summer social gatherings.  Most Christmases, over a dozen people were drawn to the turkey dinner she would spend two days preparing; and to the hilarious gift exchange game she organized as after-dinner entertainment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Janet took to Zoom to advise far-flung family on how to cook their own turkey. This kicked off a family tradition of virtual cocktail hours--another of Janet's ideas for keeping family close even in difficult circumstances. 

Janet retired in 2016 but did not rest. Over the last ten years, she was a devoted caregiver for her aging mother Barbara and her brother Greg. Her love was reflected in the tireless days and nights she spent running errands, chauffeuring them around Markham, and just spending time together. At the same time, she and John set their sights on adventure. They cruised the Rhine, biked the Adriatic coast, visiting sixteen European countries as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Bermuda. Janet completed the Ride to Conquer Cancer twice, and with John took up curling at the Markham Curling Club. She remained connected to the nursing profession, through her volunteer work for the Registered Nurses' Foundation of Ontario, for the Odette Cancer Center and for Cancer Care Ontario, as well as in her church. 

In her final days, Janet said repeatedly that the happiest days of her life were in August 2023 when Cameron married his wife, Gabrielle, and in June 2024 when Ian married his wife, Jayne. Gabrielle and Jayne have been part of the family for years, and Janet welcomed them in with the same love she showed Cameron and Ian. In March, Janet's first grandchild Sophie was born to Cameron and Gabrielle. Janet showered Sophie with love, sending her Grammy-kisses through the screen on video calls. Sophie always smiled when Janet held her.

Over the past year, Janet, who had cared for so many of her friends and family, found that love reflected back to her.  Close family and many friends visited her at home regularly and were constant presences with her at Hill House Hospice. This past July, dozens of Janet's loved ones came to Markham to attend her 70th birthday party. The size of the crowd that filled her backyard that day is a testament to how many lives she touched. 

Janet tirelessly worked to help those around her so that she could share in their joy. They all will feel her absence but will also feel the positive effects of her relentless work and bottomless love forever.

In memoriam donations may be offered to Hill House Hospice (https://hillhousehospice.com/donations), the Registered Nurses Foundation of Ontario (https://www.rnfoo.org/donate), or the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation.( https://www.mshf.on.ca) .  

A visitation will be held at the Chapel Ridge Funeral Home, 8911 Woodbine Avenue, Markham on Saturday, December 13, from 1 to 4 pm.  A memorial service will be held at Grace Anglican Church, 19 Parkway Avenue, Markham on Sunday, December 14, at 2 pm.