Orma Jane, on the 27th of June 2017 it will have been exactly a year since you’ve left us. The thought of you not being around anymore still takes my breath away, except not in a good way. The feeling of vacuum that your departure left behind is still palpable. Some people simply fade away after their passing but your life and your impact on our lives will not be so easily forgotten.
I’m sure many people are thinking of you today as I do regularly… I miss you Jane. You were and you will always be my dearest friend and as long as the rest of us are still kicking around, your life will be remembered and your friendship will be cherished. Long live your memory, the love I have for you will never fade.
Oh my… This is so devastating. I don’t know what to say, I’m stunned. I’m shocked but mostly I’m so incredibly sad. It’s so hard to believe that you’re gone. A better human being, a better friend, a more gentle, compassionate, caring person there will never be. You were always there for me. From my teens to every decade of my adult life …
Especially upon my return back home after my many years out west. I have this vivid memory of driving my van east… Somewhere in northern Michigan, my heart aching from having to leave my hundreds of Winnipeg And Banff friends behind… The one thought that made me smile at that sad, lonely moment was the anticipation of seeing you again. You have meant ‘home’ to me for as long as I can remember. You’ve helped me through many a hard time in my life… And I hope that the many many moments of laughter we shared meant as much to you as they did to me.
I’m not done telling the world how much you meant to me, to Mark, to Jean-Françoys, to Zoe, to Pierre, Audrey, to Peter and thousands more. You were the soul of Vale Perkins. You were the heart of Owl’s Head. Your were our mom, our sister, our confidant, our life coach, our best friend. You helped so many people in ways known and unknown. You were my oldest and dearest friend. You were the very definition of ‘family’ to me. I remember introducing Zoé to you and it meant the world to me that you approved… But even more that you really liked her.
We’re both as affected by you leaving. Both beside ourselves with grief… It never took decades for people to become attached to you. We even had a prank all planned out for tomorrow: We were going to send Ocean (Zoé’s 8 year old son) into your store alone with a hundred dollar bill to ask you “excuse me, how many cigarettes and fireworks will this buy me?” just to see you laugh out loud. He was so looking forward to it. To have you laugh at our silliness the way you always did.
Throughout your incredible life you have affected so many people… And you were so incredibly giving. The art of telling the truth, of calling our bluffs and poking fun at us while always being so kind and loving about it … They don’t make people like you anymore. You had a sense of duty, of community… You were our monument. We are all richer for having known you and poorer for no longer having yo to brighten our lives. But you are free now. To discover the universe, to no longer have the immense responsibility of being our rock… And that brings me some comfort.
Oh Orma Jane, I’m going to miss you with all my heart. I’m happy I took the time to tell you how much you meant to me every time I saw you. I’m happy that the last thing I told you as I hugged you was “I love you”
I always will.
JF® 
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