Julianne (Jolanka) Jakab

Julianne is survived by her daughter Lorena Ann (LA) Henry, her son Jason Alexander Jakob Henry (Jennifer Vail) and grandchildren Anna Siobhan Larmer, Jakob Robert Larmer, Jeremiah David Larmer (Rachelle Wilby) and Naomi Susanna Larmer (Alexander Shackleton), great grandson Walter Robert David Shackleton and step-great granddaughter Eleanor Nancy Shackleton; predeceased by brother Elmer Jakob, father Alexander (Sandor) Jakob and mother, Gizella Jakob.

Julianne was born in Calgary, Alberta. When she was 7, the family moved to Caroline, Alberta to the ranch they built to raise cattle. From an early age she demonstrated artistic talent, drawing portraits and varied media paintings. Julianne participated in the ranch lifestyle, including cooking for 25 men at the age of 10, riding Western saddle, and working with the livestock.

On June 1, 1954, she married a naval military man, Walter George Henry. Her first home was in Summerside, PEI. In March of 1955 they moved to Dartmouth, NS and then to Norfolk, Virginia in 1957. While in Norfolk, she modelled exclusive swimwear and worked as a receptionist and dental assistant for two dentists.

While in Halifax, the Department of Immigration asked Julianne to be an interpreter for the Hungarian refugees who were escaping the Communist uprising. After moving to Kingston Ontario, she attended Queens University as a mature student, and excelled in her studies. While in Kingston, she worked for two surgeons as a secretary, including auditing the books. As a side-line, she also designed and modelled formal gowns. Later she attended the University of Victoria and, while there, she wrote a supervised exam for the Mensa Society and became a member.

Julianne had a strong sense of civic engagement.  She initiated various community projects in Kingston ON, Red Deer AB, and Victoria BC, including developing a program for recalling and destroying outdated drugs.  While in Red Deer AB, she initiated a community band program which brought music into the schools at air base Penhold.  She herself learned to play trumpet as part of this band!  She was president of the Parent’s Association at several of her children’s schools, and acted as a liaison between senior students and the school board.  Occasionally she was asked to substitute teach at her son Jason’s school. She was instrumental in banning cement playgrounds.

In Victoria, she worked as an interpreter in the courthouse, and helped the police and RCMP with interpretation of Hungarian witnesses.   She also represented Hungarian immigration clients on tribunals.

In 1980 Julianne was provided with a return trip to the Netherlands by the manager of the Phillips Company to assist in designing a department. While in the Netherlands she presented Queen Beatrix with congratulations on her Accession to the Throne, in the form of a letter from Victoria City Council and with her newly published poetry book Interlude of Love. Queen Beatrix graciously accepted the gift and kindly responded by mail. Julianne also corresponded with Canadian Prime Ministers, and with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the death of her father. Her artistic endeavours also included designing logos for companies, illustrations, and research. She wrote columns in newspapers on safety (The Colonist, The New Yorker). She wrote articles for the criminal quarterly Genesis for several years.

Julianne taught public speaking at Camosun College, and enjoyed meeting students from all over the world.  She was gifted at helping people with resumés, and many of her clients found employment based on her support.  She was also a promoter for various clientele, including H. Norman Lidster for interviews and awards.

Her faith was like a rock. She attended church regularly, was in choir and taught Sunday School.

When asked “Of all you did, what did you enjoy most?” She replied, “Being a mother to my children.”

The family would like to thank the staff at Mt. Tolmie senior’s care facility, and the staff at The Summit on Quadra.  We always felt confident that she was in very good hands during her time in both facilities!

A Funeral Service will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC on Wednesday, September 10^th, 2025, at 11:00am followed by a Burial at Royal Oak Burial Park, 4673 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com

This obituary is the property of the “Jakab” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.