Jean Mary (MacDonald) James

Jean James (nee Macdonald) died peacefully on Wednesday, January 20th in Peterborough, her home for over 50 years.  Jean was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire in England in 1931 to John and Ellen Macdonald. Jean’s father, John, was a master-tailor and a talented amateur artist. It was from her father that Jean developed a life-long passion for the visual arts. Just after the war, Jean trained as a Registered Nurse and Mid-wife at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth teaching hospital in Birmingham. Shortly after qualifying, she and friend Betty (Pudsey), rather on a whim, responded to an advertisement for nurses to work in Canada. After a long voyage across the Atlantic and then across country by train, Jean and Betty arrived in Gainsborough, Saskatchewan in mid-January.  They must have liked the weather for neither returned to England to live!

Marrying a fellow Brit, (a Welshman) David Griffith James, who was working in Saskatchewan’s oil fields, they soon settled to life on the prairies.  Jean and David had four children but due to David’s worsening ill health, decided to go east, settling eventually and happily in Peterborough. Jean’s medical background led to her working in the Peterborough Regional Health Laboratory where she worked for over ten years. When David died suddenly in 1977, Jean continued working, supporting and raising her four children on her own.

It was after retirement that Jean really came into her own, now having some time to focus on her passion for art, she started taking classes in Peterborough. She was later able to combine her love of travel with her desire to hone her craft, studying and working in artist’s studios in New York, Mexico and Europe. Jean exhibited her paintings at art festivals and galleries in the Peterborough area and in Toronto as well as in England, Holland and Germany.  Jean was especially proud of exhibiting paintings in a gallery in London. London, a city she visited often as a child always had a special place in her heart.

Travelling was a big part of Jean’s life and she did most of it with backpack and hiking boots. Hers was the kind of travel that required a true sense of adventure and high levels of grit, both of which Jean had in bucketloads. Jean travelled widely for many years, but developed a deep love for Kashmir and returned there frequently, latterly staying with dear friends that she had made while there.

Jean’s travel including keeping up with her family, and old friends and for this she needed to be a globetrotter, for they were a far-flung bunch. Her sister Barbara and niece Jana and family had emigrated to New Zealand and Australia. In England and Wales, Jean regularly visited David’s family especially Roddy and Doris James and her nephew and niece Isobel and Alex, the children of her beloved brother, Sandy and dearly loved sister-in-law Freda.  Jean had friends from childhood, school days and her nursing career that she remained in touch with until her death.  The friends from Saskatchewan were always there and Betty, her travelling companion to Canada, remained close as did Betty’s children Ian, Paul and Marion.  Jean had many friends in Peterborough but particularly dear to her were Betty Borg and Linda van der Wel and her family. Both Betty and Linda were loyal and kind friends to the end.

Jean was humble, kind and generous. She was sensitive to beauty in the natural world and in the people she met. Throughout her life, Jean found much joy and solace in art, music and literature.  She was a devoted mother to Steven, Christine, Karen and Robert and to her five adored grandchildren Audrey, Safiyah, Owen, Ben and Ella.  

Jean was very much loved; she will be missed by her family and friends more than she could ever imagine.

A gathering to celebrate Jean’s life will be held in Peterborough later in the year when meeting together is not so difficult. In memory of Jean and in lieu of flowers a donation to the Alzheimer's Society or a charity of your choice will be appreciated.

Special thanks to Jean’s friends from ComForCare. Brenda, Lori, Cheryl, Denise and Phyliss.

“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.” - Rumi