Saturday, June 15, 2024
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Janet Eldridge. As others have mentioned, she was a world citizen, an intelligent lady who respected all, was very inclusive and as others would attest, you felt at home in her presence. She and Keith were highly hospitable, generous and keenly appreciative of diversity and the need to be kind to all. My wife, Trish and I have known Janet and Keith for over fifty years, first meeting them when we were teenagers and newly attracted to the teachings of the Baha'I Faith. They were living in a big house then near the Fredericton airport which provided a venue for Keith’s creative artistic endeavors and also a place which welcomed Baha’is and their friends for summer and winter schools where we would study Baha’i teachings and consult on ways we could be of service in our respective communities. There was much fellowship, laughter and mingling of people from all walks of life and cultures. Keith and Janet were particularly close to the indigenous friends. Janet was adept at making large pots of yummy food (with the help of others) and always had cookies and refreshments ready for the hungry youth.
Although they never had children of their own, many of us felt we were adopted by them and remained close to them over the years. We all benefited from their wise counsel and followed their exploits as they moved about the Atlantic provinces and China. Trish and I were lucky enough to live in Sussex for a number of years which overlapped with when Keith and Janet resided here and from which they set off to China on more than one occasion.
We always looked forward to visiting with them and with Janet after Keith passed. They were of a generation of Baha’is who helped build a strong foundation for the Baha’i Faith in Canada and abroad and never faltered in their steadfast determination to apply the teachings of Baha’u’llah to all aspects of their life, particularly their relationships with others. We are so grateful for having known them and been encouraged by their shining examples. Well done, Janet, well done!
