Isabel Jane Munn (née Bohn)

October 20^th, 1939 – July 7^th, 2023

Jane was born in Chatham, Ontario to Phyllis Isabel (Richardson) and Dr. Leonard John Bohn. She died peacefully at home in London, Ontario at 83, surrounded by family and friends, having taught us all throughout her life how to care for the elderly and dying. She leaves her husband Fred, daughter Catharine (husband Douglas Richards), son Ian (wife Jennifer Munn), grand-children Tristan, Isabel and Colin, and her many cherished friends.

Jane led with her twinkling blue eyes, always smiling, chatting, and asking questions. She was forever planning adventures and projects, and cooking up schemes. Jane never stopped but was slowed down by dementia in recent years. Her love for camp, camping, and Georgian Bay began at Camp Kitchikewana, later becoming a “Kitchi” counsellor and camp nurse. After high school in Chatham, Jane attended nursing school at Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital, then University of Toronto for a Diploma in Public Health. Jane married Fred in 1963 and for 60 years they hiked, skied, sailed, camped, raised and loved their children and grandchildren, and travelled, spending many summers at their island cottage at Pointe au Baril and winters in St. Maarten. They walked the Camino de Santiago together, Jane at 74 with a broken toe, with her trademark perseverance. Jane was a born community nurse, caregiver, and problem-solver, starting as a VON nurse in Toronto and retiring as a home care case coordinator in London with the CCAC. She brought her special mix of compassion, intelligence, pragmatism, and advocacy to nursing, as she did to everyday life.

Jane was incurably curious, a storyteller, listener, and connector, forging relationships wherever she went. She was a fiercely loyal and proud wife, mother, and grandmother and, as an only child, treated her many friends like family, cultivating and maintaining friendships from early childhood throughout every chapter of her life. Jane was a dedicated parishioner at St. John the Evangelist Church, London, where she held several roles, including warden, and her church family brought her strength and comfort. She pursued many passions in her enthusiastic and meticulous way, including building exceptional miniature dollhouses and furniture, house-painting, renovating, building dry-stone walls and cottage walkways, paddling canoes, birdwatching, and gardening. Jane was always eager to dig in and get the work done, especially if called upon. If you happened to be nearby you were often swept into action, like it or not, and standards were high! She also relished the rewards at the end of a hard day’s work – a skinny dip in the lake, a single cold beer in the bottle, a fine meal at a well-laid table with friends, a wild blueberry pie, an ice cream cone.

Fred became her devoted primary caregiver in recent years. He learned to navigate Ontario’s challenged health care system, allowing her to live and die with dignity in her beloved home, with the kind assistance of friends and neighbours. We are incredibly grateful for the care provided by many exceptional PSW’s, especially Maxine, Sue, Adam, and others, the Parkwood Geriatric Outreach Program, London Paramedics, and the Byron Family Medical Centre team.

A celebration of Jane’s life is to be held September 16, 2023, 10:30 a.m., at St. John the Evangelist Church, 280 St. James St., London ON.

In her memory, please consider donating to the St. John’s Saturday Dinner Program

 https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/118861863RR0002-st-john-the-evangelist/