Janet Elizabeth Forrest

Janet Elizabeth Forrest passed away peacefully with her family at her side, on 17 January 2026, just a month shy of her 85th birthday. Although she was born in England, she grew up in Wales and was proud of her Welsh heritage. She is leaving behind a legacy of unwavering family devotion, cultural passion and intellectual curiosity. Who knew that when hosting a party in London she would meet the true love of her life, Tom. It was the start of a long and loving relationship. She moved to Canada in 1964 to marry Tom, and they spent the rest of her life together. Janet’s academic achievements included a BSc and MSc in Chemistry from Swansea University, a Diploma in Interior Design, an MBA and PhD in Business. Professionally, she served as a researcher at the National Research Council, a passion she shared with her granddaughter Megan, who also works in healthcare research. She also taught Business at Dalhousie, Acadia, Mount Allison, and Saint Mary's. Janet was extremely well rounded and loved the arts, including her support of her granddaughter Chloe’s enthusiasm for the theatre. She spent years volunteering as a docent at the NS Art Gallery and would always visit an art gallery when she traveled and go to the ballet or opera. Janet prided herself in her Welsh heritage, so she and Tom started the Welsh Society of Nova Scotia. She enjoyed frequent visits back to Wales and visiting her cousin Rob, who is like a brother to her, and had an annual tradition of reading “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” and watching “Hedd Wyn”. Although she loved her Welsh heritage, she was a true Francophile at heart. She loved her annual stays at her favorite spot, Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, enjoying the Riviera ambience and everything it entailed; the scenery, wine, food, weather, and culture. While living there she and Tom made some great friends. She and Tom certainly loved travelling, having visited 57 countries, as well as living in Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and France. Her travels enriched her life and those around her with her stories of diverse cultures and experiences. She loved cooking and hosting dinner parties for friends. She created amazing culinary dishes and was not afraid to experiment with exotic dishes. To her disappointment, her kids did not always love her experiments and grew up to be “picky eaters”. She also enjoyed tennis at the Waeg, her French Club, Book Club and sitting down on the Arm for a sunset cocktail. She is survived by her husband Tom; her daughter, Laura (Otis Wien); her son, Jonathan (Michelle Benoit); her sister Anne; her cousin Rob, and her two cherished granddaughters, Chloe and Megan. Not long before she passed, she said how wonderful and talented her granddaughters are. Janet had immense pride and love for her family and her warmth, intellect, and zest for life will be profoundly missed by family, friends, and all who knew her. To celebrate Janet, take a moment to toast her with a nice glass of rosé, some fine cheese, and enjoy life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (agns.ca/donate) in her memory. A celebration of life will be announced at later date.

Janet Elizabeth Forrest

January 17, 2026