Janet DeVenney peacefully left this earthly journey December 29,2025 at Hillside Pines in Bridgewater.

Janet DeVenney nee Spicer was born on February 7, 1937, in Harbourville, Nova Scotia, to Roland C. Spicer and Nellie (Bain) Spicer. She grew up alongside her siblings Eileen, Paul, Jim, Clayton, Margaret, Jerry and Wayne. In her early years, the family moved to Paradise, where they were raised in a loving home and close-knit community filled with fun, laughter, and strong family bonds. Janet was the last surviving immediate member of the Spicer family.

After graduating high school, Janet married James (Jim) DeVenney of Bridgetown, and together they began raising their family Richard, Randal, and Marlene. As their family grew, they moved in 1967 to the DeVenney family home on Faye Road in Bridgetown where Janet lived for more than five decades. She remained there until May 2024, when her health declined and her care needs increased.

Janet had a deep love for children and delighted in being an aunt, a grandmother and great-grandmother and great, great grandmother. She warmly welcomed her first grandchildren, Christine (Alberta)and Jeff Connor (Melissa) Halifax children of Richard and Barbara DeVenney of Bridgetown, making each feel special and deeply loved. Many treasured memories were made at Lake Cady, the family cottage and at her home in Bridgetown. Later, she welcomed Ryan McCarthy (Mandy) and Megan McCarthy (Tyler), children of Marlene and Stephen McCarthy of Conquerall Mills, and Daniel DeVenney (Catherine), son of Randal and Cathy Bellissimo of Toronto.

Janet was also blessed with great-grandchildren Brandon Melanson (Jolie)and Devin Melanson (Britt), and Jaxon and Finnley McCarthy of Hunts Point, Liam Connor Halifax as well as one great-great-grandson Braydon of Digby Great great granddaughter Everest and brother Kyle of Digby brought her great joy.

Family was always at the heart of Janet’s life. She was instrumental in organizing many family dinners, the annual Spicer cousin parties, with rotating venues and houses full of children, laughter, chaos, and good food, often including “Grammie Nellie” Spicer’s famous cookies (the recipe still missing). As health challenges arose, these gatherings gently transformed into cousin teas, or perhaps the sharing of some of Janet’s homemade wine, as she was a proud member of a wine club in her retirement years.

In her earlier years, Janet devoted countless hours supporting her children and the many sports activities that filled their home. She spent endless time driving her sons and neighborhood boys to Cornwallis after the local arena burned, volunteering with minor hockey, and helping wherever needed, efforts that earned her a volunteer award. Many Bridgetown boys fondly remember her car rides, her help lacing skates, country music playing on the radio, and her patience with sweaty hockey gear. Her famous quote don’t sweat the small stuff and it’s water off a ducks back was the reassurance anyone needed, She also volunteered in the canteen and helped host end-of-season hockey gatherings at the DeVenney home.

When their son Randal advanced to Junior A hockey in Kentville and later played for Acadia University, Janet and Jim never missed a game, proudly cheering from the stands, even sitting in the alumni section despite never attending Acadia themselves.

Professionally, Janet spent her early years working at TW Ellis plumbing and heating and later working years as a bookkeeper and hairdresser for elders at her sister’s boarding home, Grace Haven, in Paradise. She loved helping elders look and feel their best while supporting her sister and family. She had practiced her hair cutting skills on brother Paul and many other cousins that might drop by for a special cut.

Janet lived a simple and contented life. She cherished sitting on the veranda with Jim, watching children play, hummingbirds flutter, and flowers grow. She enjoyed trout fishing with Jim or her sister Margaret, knitting, quilting and sewing in retirement, and gifting handmade quilts to family. Her home was always open, welcoming friends as warmly as family. Janet loved easily, laughed often, enjoyed a good joke, and embraced a little mischief. She rarely complained, quietly accepting whatever life brought her way and defying the odds time and again.

She deeply missed the many family members who predeceased her on both sides of the family.

Janet spent her final 19 months at Hillside Pines Home for Special Care in Bridgewater, where she was shown great compassion, dignity, and love in her final days. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the care partners at Hillside Pines, Nurse Practitioner Renate Bennett, VON Annapolis County CCAs, and the staff of Home Care for Angels Agency for their kindness, friendship, and exceptional care. Janet treasured you all and even managed one last Christmas morning.

Besides her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Janet is survived by her sister-in-law Pauline Spicer, wife of the late Clayton Spicer of Truro. and many nieces and nephews. She loved them all like her own.

Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held on July 8, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Bridgetown, with a reception to follow. TBA

Donations in Janet’s memory may be made to VON Annapolis County or Hillside Pines Home for Special Care (Palliative Care).

Janet had a strong faith that everything would work out—and somehow, it always did. Please raise a glass of good red wine in her honour.

Till we meet again.

We already miss you.