Henderson (Wilson), Annike ‘Jans’ Lucretia

Jans Henderson of Truro, NS died in Halifax on Sunday May 14th. Born March 20, 1934 in Truro, she was the daughter of the late George and Madelyn (Merriam) Wilson. Jans loved and was deeply loved by her family and was at her happiest at Shortts Lake in the summers and Wentworth in the winters surrounded by her children, husband, various pets and all her beloved relatives and friends.

Jans was passionate about sports and while at the Colchester County Academy starred in track and field, badminton and won the girls’ division of the NS Swimming Championships. She excelled at tennis, and with her partner won the NS Junior Ladies Doubles Tennis Championships for three years. During her years at Dalhousie University Jans played ice hockey, field hockey and won the Maritime Intercollegiate singles title in badminton in 1952. She also captained the Dal Women’s basketball team.

Jans graduated with a BA degree from Dalhousie University in 1955 and by then had fallen in love with fellow sports enthusiast and Dal grad, Scott Henderson BA, LL.B., QC. They were married for 47 years and travelled and raised their 5 children in Ottawa, Germany and Halifax. Despite having a busy household, or perhaps because of a need to escape, Jans found the time and energy to volunteer for UNICEF, United Way, act as a palliative care volunteer at the VG Hospital, serve as a Board Member of Meals on Wheels, the NS Cancer Society, the Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation of NS, and was Vice Chair of the NS Heart Foundation Campaign 1974-76. She was also a commissioner of the Halifax District School Board. In 1981-82 Jans was Chair of the Halifax/Bedford Basin Progressive Conservative campaign. Jans volunteered as a tennis coach at Sir Charles Tupper and St. Andrews schools in Halifax, taught tennis at the Shortts Lake Tennis Club, served on the Executive of the NS Tennis Association, was on the Board at the YWCA from 1978-82, and was Chair of the Recreation committee of the Halifax YWCA. She was proud to be inducted into the Truro Sport Hall of Fame in 2008 in recognition for her excellence in badminton, basketball, hockey, swimming, and tennis. Jans was also an avid bridge player, bird watcher, reader, member of the Vestry of St. James Anglican Church in Halifax, president of the Anglican Church Women at All Saints Westboro Church in Ottawa, Altar Guild and Layman’s Association Secretary-Treasurer at St. John’s Anglican Church in Truro.

‘Nan’ was deeply loved and will be remembered for her compassion for others, her dazzling smile, love of laughter and unconditional love for her family. She is predeceased by her husband Scott Henderson (2002), granddaughter Gabriell Jans Henderson (2002), brother Peter Wilson (1999), and her sister Judith Winter (2010). Jans is survived by her children; Jane and her children Madeline and Thomas (Spence), Halifax; Anneke (Colin Jackson) and their children Lucy and Eva, Halifax; Peter (Leslie Byrne) and their children Leigha, the late Gabriell, and Isabelle, Truro; Susan (Robert Pretty) and their children Caroline and Max, Upper Tantallon; and Matthew. She is also survived by her brother David K. Wilson, Truro, and a large and loving extended family.

We are grateful for the compassionate care provided at Shannex Maplestone and Parkland at the Gardens.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday May 30th at 2:00 pm at St John’s Anglican Church in Truro, reception at the church to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jans’ memory may be made to Hospice Halifax or a charity of choice.