Jan Pierson (nee Dupuis)

Jan Pierson (nee Dupuis), of Eagle Lake, maker of things, died July 29, 2024, and she is not happy about it.

Born in Detroit in 1944, Jan grew up in Forest Hill, Toronto, and graduated from Women’s College Hospital School of Nursing in 1966. She worked as an operating-room nurse at Toronto General and Oshawa General Hospitals for several years before chucking it all in 1972 to devote herself to raising a family. A fierce mother and a woman of opinions numerous and strong, she was annoyed enough with options for her children’s education that she helped lead the drive to found the Quest Centre school in Durham Region. She loved to embark on cooking adventures (and sometimes misadventures) and never met a craft she didn’t want to try.

Her love of fiber arts in particular led to silk-painting, felting, soft-sculpture, macrame, and weaving (ask her children about The Loom sometime). Upon moving to the Haliburton area she discovered wood-carving and wire sculpture, and devoted vast effort to fashioning the throng of insects, dragons, and fantasy characters that festoon the walls and gardens of her home. A lifelong lover of a good deal, she also volunteered at Lily Ann Thrift Store, allowing her to bring all manner of stuff home. So much stuff.

Was she married? She was, and well, to Don Pierson for 56 years. Her children, Chris and Michael, found equally loving marriages to Rebekah and Patrick. Her grandchildren, Chloe and Quentin, loved “Jan-Jan” ferociously, as did Skyla, her spaniel. She is also missed by Amazon and Temu, for whom she provided substantial financial assistance, and by many friends and neighbours who will long remember the sound of her laughter (and arguing) from across the lake.

Private Funeral Arrangements

As per Jan's wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral. Jan intensely disliked cut flowers, and will haunt you if you send them. Instead, give to 4 C’s Food Bank and Lily Ann in Haliburton, and to the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation. Also, if you know a smoker, she wants you to tell them to knock it off. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the HALIBURTON COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOME 13523 Hwy. #118, Haliburton, Ontario (705) 457-9209.

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