Obituary of Janis Maye Marriott (nee Winchester)

It’s with deep sadness that we announce Janis’s sudden passing on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Janis was born in 1937 in Digby, Nova Scotia. She was the beloved wife of the late Clayton (2020) for 62 years.

Mom will be sadly missed by her son Rod (Shirley) Marriott of Lloydminster, Alberta, and her daughter Lynn (Jim) Windjack of Fonthill. She was the much-loved Nana of Jennie (Dean) Coulson, and great grandma of Nash and Reid, of Lloydminster, Alberta and adored Nana of Kim Marriott (Ephryn Giesbrecht) of St. Catharines. She was the step Nana to James (Nancy) Windjack and Lisa (Jeremy) DiFranco, both of St. Catharines and step great grandma to Ben DiFranco, Sammy Windjack and Orrie Windjack. Janis is also survived by her sister Rae (late Gus) MacKenzie of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Bud and Mary Winchester and her younger brother Budd Winchester.

Mom was a tremendous lover of animals, especially horses and dogs, as we had many of both throughout our childhood. At various points in her life, she had also been a figure skater and coach as well as a champion show jumper with her horse Jollity Star, throughout the Maritimes.

She had a wonderful life full of family, friends and good times with her most recent friendships being with the residents of Lookout Ridge. Mom was known throughout the building for her Toronto Blue Jay room door which remained decorated throughout the baseball season and she was overjoyed at their appearance in the 2025 World Series.

The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Lookout Ridge for their compassion, caring, and most of all their friendship with mom during her 8 years of residence. A very special shout out to Tania and the nursing staff for their exceptional care. She had people whom she treasured, and thoroughly enjoyed her nightly chats in the lobby with Bill and Anne, her Rummikins gang, as well as her dining room table ladies. A very special thanks to Jaye Warden for mom’s ice cream trips. She so looked forward to those times.

Our family would also like to express our deepest gratitude to Dr. Michael Milo and the staff at Morningstar Family Medicine for their expert and compassionate care that they provided mom with over the last years. It is greatly appreciated.

In honouring mom’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will not be a service. A memorial celebration at Lookout Ridge will be announced at a later date. If you wish to make a donation to honour Janis’s life, please consider either of her favourite charities of Last Chance Horse and Pony Rescue in Crystal Beach or the Humane Society of Niagara where she adopted her beloved dog Dudley.

Arrangements entrusted to Essentials Cremation and Burial Services, 221 Division Street, Welland, ON, 905-734-1031