Janet died peacefully on the 10th January after a battle with dementia in the Broadmead Memorial Lodge Care Home. She is survived by her loving husband, Ken, of 64 years, her daughter Katharine (David), her son Geoffrey (Clare), 13 grandchildren, and 4 great- grandchildren. Janet was born in Tamworth, Ontario to Helen and James Wallace where she spent her early years before the family moved to New Brunswick, first to Sussex, then to Moncton. She studied piano with Ernest Freeborn, and accompanied choirs and the school orchestra at Moncton High School. She went on to Mount Allison University where she obtained a B.Sc. in home economics (cum laude), in 1955, and also studied piano there with Evron Kinsman, and accompanied many singers.
In 1956 Janet travelled to England, where she studied with Robin Wood at the Royal Academy of Music, and in 1957 was awarded the LRAM diploma. She sang for two years with the Royal Choral Society in London, whose members performed regularly in the Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony under Sir Malcolm Sargent and others.
In 1958 Janet married Ken Leffek in London with the ceremony performed by Lord Donald Soper. They returned to Canada and settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1961. In 1968 Janet met Yvonne Enoch, who introduced her to the group teaching of piano, in classes of eight students with four pianos. She was hired by the Halifax School System in 1971 to teach piano by this method. The programme grew over twelve years until over 200 children and three part-time teachers were involved. It reached its high point in 1980 when 32 of her students playing 16 pianos in the Halifax Metro Centre performed an arrangement of “The Carnival of the Animals” by Saint Saens. This remains to this day a unique performance in the annals of classical music. Sometime later the programme was terminated by the School Board on the grounds that it was elitist. All told Janet taught piano in Halifax for over 30 years and played an active part in the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers’ Association of which she was made a life member. For nine years she was also the rehearsal accompanist for the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Choir. Janet has given lectures and workshops on piano group teaching in Nova Scotia and England and taught the piano pedagogy course at Acadia University for one year as a sabbatical replacement. She has adjudicated at over two dozen music Festivals in the four Atlantic provinces and British Columbia. Janet’s last performances were recitals at Care Homes in Victoria, including a number at the Broadmead Memorial Lodge, where she spent the last two years of her life after she developed dementia. Our special thanks are given to Dr.Christine Roh and the staff of this home for the loving care which they gave Janet during her last years. Donations to Broadmead Care would be greatly appreciated.
A celebration of Janet’s life will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
32 Responses
I live at Braefoot Place and only met Janet a few years ago when she used to play for our Christmas Dinner at the Golf Course.We enjoyed singing carols but very off key.! I knew she developed dementia so her passing must be somewhat of a relief but a loss never the less. She obviously was a very talented lady and I wish I had known her longer. My condolences to Ken and all the family
Sending my sincere condolences to you Ken and to your family.
Janet was a warm and very capable person and I always was happy to see both of you across the isle at concerts.
Good memories of Christmas carols and dinner afterwards at your home.
To Ken, Kathy & David & family:
So sorry to hear of the loss of your wife, mother, grandmother…
I will always remember Janet through her relationship with Catherine & Irene – and the many Canadian Club meetings. I remember fondly her talent & passion on the piano – tickling the ivories at the CC Christmas Teas.
I feel richer for having met & gotten to know Janet over the years.
Thinking of you all!
Catherine Laird
Dear Ken,
I am so very sorry to hear of Janet’s passing.
We first met at university in the early fifties. As we were both graduating in 55 we decided we would both teach for a year saving as much money as we could for a year in Europe.
What an adventure! Six weeks on the continent sleeping in our rented Citroen. Janet being smaller than me had her head between the clutch and the gas pedal, the back seats being removed each night for leg room. We cooked on a steel suitcase on many a roadside and slept at family campgrounds at night and visited as many countries in western Europe as we could.
Back in England we settled in a rented flat with four others and worked at various part time jobs for living expenses and lessons at the Royal Academy of music, Janet in piano of course, and me in singing. But this time in England was extra special for Janet as it was there that she met you!
Once home in Canada you two settled in N.S. and my husband and I headed west to B.C. Although there were a couple of visits from you as you crossed the country it wasn’t until we all retired on Vancouver Island, you in Victoria and us in Comox, that there were lots more visits and grand duets between Janet and me with Janet on the piano and me singing.
I am so glad to have had those happy times with Janet.
Take care, Ken.
Affectionately,
Sara
I have known Janet since she and Ken moved to Victoria and have always enjoyed her warm and friendly personality.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Sincere condolences to her family.
We were sorry to hear about Janet and offer our sincere condolences to you, Ken and your family. She was a very talented and lovely person. Our kindest thoughts go out to you at this time of grief.
Sincere condolescences.
Janet was a lovely person, friendly, understanding and full of good advice with a wonderful gift for music which she shared with all of her fellow teachers. I have a fond memory of her when the CFMTA held it`s meeting in Regina. We ended up on the hotel roof in the hot tub, lots of laughing and shared fun. She will be missed but I know so many people will have lasting memories of this great lady
Janet and Ken were kind and generous to provide me with a place to stay for a month as I embarked on my first year at UVic. I am so appreciative of that gesture and was pleased to spend some time getting to know them. Janet was a lovely, welcoming person and I’m very sorry to hear of her passing. Condolences to Ken and their Family.
My brothers and I were so lucky to know Janet Leffek, who we affectionately called “Grandma” since we were born. My parents came to Canada in their early 30s from Sri Lanka, and my mother was fortunate to meet Dr. Ken Leffek (“Grandpa” to us) as her academic supervisor when she began her PhD in Chemistry at Dalhousie University. Grandpa and Grandma quickly became an unwavering support system to both of my parents. They went above and beyond in their care and generosity. At the time, this meant a lot to parents, who were young and trying to settle down in a new and unfamiliar country that was half-way across the world from their families. Their care extended to my two older brothers and I once we were born. We were so fortunate to have them in our lives as our stand-in grandparents – and they did a fantastic job of making us feel special. They were supportive of our endeavours and always took an interest in us. One of my favourite childhood memories around Christmas time was the annual trip to Toys-R-Us with my brothers to buy a special toy with the gift certificates that Grandma and Grandpa gave to us, along with a card that always provided an update on their exciting lives. When they moved to Victoria, they always made an effort to visit us. As I have gotten older, I have truly come to appreciate that their involvement in our lives was outstanding. Grandma was an exceptionally gentle lady, who was the epitome of class, kindness, commitment and generosity. She was also extremely adorable! I will always keep my memories of her close to my heart, and am eternally grateful for the care she and Grandpa showed my parents at a time when they needed it the most, and for the role they played in my life as well. To Grandpa and family, my deepest condolences. With love, Apiraami Thana.