Janette MacNab Planchat (nee Ferguson)

La Fédération des parents francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador et ses membres désirent vous faire part de leurs plus sincères sympathies et vous souhaitent tout le réconfort, le soutien et la bienveillance que vous méritez dans ce moment aussi difficile.

Beautiful ceremony today for Janette. I’ll always remember her kindness and her soothing voice. I met her a long time ago at MUN and then as French Immersion colleagues. Rest in peace Janette. Condolences to all the family and close friends!

Mme. Planchchat taught both our children at Bishop Feild. She was a wonderful introduction to education. Please accept our condolences. Judith and Merv McIntyre

The first time I remember meeting Janette was at a choir rehearsal upstairs in the old Francophone Association building on LeMarchant Road. I remember thinking: Wow, this person has a presence; she has personality! That was probably 25 years ago.

Gradually, as I got to know Janette better, I came to see how much she contributed, not just to the choir but to the Francophone community in general. She loved to teach; she loved working with people; she loved “la langue de Molière” and wanted it spoken properly. She LOVED children, especially her grandchildren, and she remembered her students for many years after she’d taught them, maintaining an active interest in their lives and their activities. She always spoke of them with affection.

Janette was kind and generous with some choir members who had had difficult lives and whose behaviour was difficult as a result; she understood that they needed empathy and had the patience to offer it.

She was meticulous in preparing the plays that her theatre troupe presented for school children: this was a pedagogical exercise, and she insisted on going over the French pronunciation with non-native speakers until it met with her approval. She didn’t want pupils learning sloppy pronunciation – standards needed to be upheld! But these plays were artistic as well as educational, and they always held visual and creative surprises for the hundreds of students who were lucky enough to form the audience.

As a long-time choir member, Janette served on the choir committee and acted as a kind of senior advisor in logistical matters, even as she responded to every request made of her as a singer. (We’re short of tenors, could you be a tenor? We need you on soprano, Janette, OK? How about singing the bass line up the octave?) She sang with the main choir and in its “petit groupe,” and was always ready to rise to the challenge of an occasional solo or duet.

I will miss many things about Janette’s friendship, and one event will always stand out for me. When the time came to plan the spring concert, a custom evolved whereby I would ask David (our collaborative pianist) and Janette (Chief Theatrical Consultant) to join me for a drink at the Guv’nor Pub, and we would go over the plans: how could we make our show more visual, a bit dramatic, what were the songs about, and what could we do with them? Janette felt strongly about fresh flowers on the stage despite the price, and she had her way. She confected a gendarme’s hat for Charly and had him running round the hall as a French policeman, blowing his whistle. We had singers clopping around on hobbyhorses, wearing riding helmets… I will particularly miss that little annual interaction, the spirit of fun and imagination at a convivial table.

Janette will be fondly remembered by a great many people for her kind heart, her sense of fun, her obvious love for her family, and her joie de vivre. “Buvons encore, une dernière fois, à l’amitié, l’amour, la joie » 🎶

So sad to read of Janette’s passing. My first encounter with Janette was when she substituted at St. Pius X Girls School when I was in grade 7 in 1972!We thought she was the coolest and the best French teacher ever. She was probably one of the reasons I became a French teacher. As I began teaching French in St.John’s, our paths crossed many many times. I sang for a while in the francophone choir.. But my more frequent encounters with your mom were through the many field trips to the French school to see her various French theatre productions that were geared to the elementary French immersion students. I loved seeing Janette . She was so integral in building positive linguistic experiences for the students. She was always so pleasant and positive. It was a pleasure knowing Janette. I am so sorry for your loss. She was une tres belle femme.

Joe, Andrew, Flora, Donald:

Many of my childhood memories on Campbell Avenue are centered around the time I spent with your family.

Janette was always such a pleasant and caring person. A natural born educator who doted on all the kids – even those of us who were not her students. She enriched so many lives.

Many a rainy morning as I trudged to school – the Little Red Mini would pull up along-side of me and she’d say: “Give you a lift Johnny – get in!” …She’d then proceed to drop me off at the door to my school, before continuing on to her job at another location in the city.

I will always cherish my memories of the Matriarch of your family.

So sad for your loss.

Dear Flora & family,
I am so saddened to learn of your mother’s passing. I first met her when I replaced her at Holloway School in 1978. I continued to know her as you continued through the French Immersion school system. I hope that lovely memories of her will help you during these difficult days. Sincerely.

Dear Joe and Family,
Deepest condolences to you all on the passing of your wonderful Janette. It was always such a pleasure seeing her and bumping into her every now and then in St. John’s. She was a great teacher and proponent for the importance of teaching and having French as a second language in our Province and for Canada as a whole.
We will miss not being able to see or hear her again on this Earth.

My sincere condolences to the entire Planchat family.

Janette was an absolutely wonderful person . She was instrumental in guiding and mentoring me in the early days of my teaching career. A dedicated and passionate teacher who was well respected and loved by all .

Cherish the wonderful memories at this most difficult time .

To the Planchat Family,
Please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your dear wife and Mother.
Linda Burns
Lawtons HHC

Joe, Andrew, Flora, Donald and family,
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Janette was an amazing person.
She loved her family and she loved her friends.
I will miss her stories, (and there were many) her creative energy, the sparkle in her eyes and her laughter.
My sincere condolences to you all.
Yvonne Manning

J’ai eu la chance de travailler avec Janette d’abord comme monitrice de français à Harrington, puis comme assistante dans sa classe de maternelle à Bishop Feild’s. Janette était une enseignante dévouée. Elle m’a accueillie comme un membre de sa famille et a été une vraie amie pour moi pendant mes quatre années à St. John’s. Je garderai le souvenir de son merveilleux sens de l’humour et de son amour pour la vie, pour sa famille, pour le français, pour son métier et pour les arts et la culture. Toutes mes condoléances à sa famille.

“Bonjour mes enfants” she would say. “Bonjour Madame” hundreds of school-uniformed children would respond over the years at Holloway Elementary.

Madame was our first French teacher. A wonderful, exotic exposure. Madame gave us all French names and spoke and sang and danced from time to time. We all thought her accent was French. Just reading her obit did the Scotch penny drop.

I was fortunate to see Janette over the years. Amazingly she always remembered me.

I will always remember her.

So very sorry to hear about Janette’s passing. I’ve known her for many years, as a fellow teacher, a teacher of my children and as a friend. Unfortunately I will not be at the celebration of her life as I will be out of the province at that time.

I’m so sorry for your loss. I was a student several years and then we were friends as an adult. She was quite the lady. In the young days I remember she would bring cider to class and we all thought it was liquor I think it was Holloway school 😂. Another great memory was when she sewed a dress and another just like it for her little girl. I think it was united junior high. She was liked by many.

Sending my deepest condolences to the family. I done Jeanettes hair for a few years and she left a lasting impression in my life. I’ve thought of her often in the years since I left that industry. RIP

Janette was such a strong presence in Canadian Parents for French , along with Harrington School and la chorale, La Rose des Vents. I feel richer for experiencing all three with her over the last 35 years. Sincere condolences to the family and to all those who received her sense of caring. and love de la langue française..

To Janette’s family,
So very sorry to hear of her passing. She was a kindergarten teacher to our son at Bishop Field School where he began learning French. She was a wonderful teacher and very patient with her little
Students.
Our deepest sympathy to all.

I’m so sorry to hear this sad news. Janette was always such a vibrant person who cared so deeply for her family, friends and students. She was an advocate for French language learning and contributed significantly to community and causes with such energy and commitment. One always felt joy and laughter in her presence. I will never forget the twinkle in her eyes, her infectious smile and contagious laughter. Sending heartfelt condolences from us all. Cherish all the wonderful memories…

We are indescribably grateful to M. Planchat, our daughter Elizabeth’s kindergarten teacher, for her impact on our daughter.
They kept their friendship alive for over 25 years and they met regularly to chat and have coffee.
Merci, Madam Planchat for your kindness and mentorship of your kindergarten student, and our daughter Elizabeth,over the years.
Our daughter respected and appreciated you enough to maintain a relationship with you– since day one of her school days.
Repose en paix…….et, merci.

My sincere condolences to Joe and the family. Janette was a dear friend of mine for almost 30 years. We shared our love of the French language. She was such a caring and loving human being. Gone way too soon. ❤️🌷

I am so sorry to hear of Janette’s passing. She’s a beautiful lady and I always enjoying seeing her every week to have her hair done. Once she stopped coming in, I would ask Joe about her. She was never far from my thoughts! She will be missed.
Tracey from Laheys Hairstyling

So delighted to have met Janette with the choir-
Beautiful, and warmly engaging.

My heartfelt condolences,
Cindy

To the Planchat Family

Sending our condolences to you at the loss of Janette. She was an excellent educator who will be fondly remembered by her students and colleagues. She will be missed by those who knew her! Kevin and Terry Sharpe

Toutes nos condoléances à la famille.
René et Françoise ENGUEHARD

Janette did so much for teaching and the arts in our province. She gave incredible energy and twinkle to the many, many projects she spearheaded! We had a lot of fun in several French school plays she wrote or adapted and produced.

A huge loss for our community, but especially for you all. You cared for her so beautifully right up to the end.

I am so sorry that I’ll be in Quebec at an arts conference on Sunday, but I will be thinking of you and will make a donation to the LSPU Hall in her name.

Love Louise

To Joe, Andrew, Flora and Donald

I send my deepest sympathy on the passing of your darling wife and mother. Janette was a wonderful teacher , a dear friend and citizen of the world. I feel so blessed to have known her. I will always remember her beautiful smile and her quick wit. May your memories of her help you through these difficult days. Rest in peace , Janette.

Joe and family, so sorry to hear of Janettes passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you