March 23, 1961 – March 11, 2025   

Dr. Jeanette Elise Gallant passed away peacefully on March 11, 2025, at the Vancouver Hospice Society at the age of 63. Jeanette was born in Kamloops on March 23, 1961, to Napoleon Gallant and Annie Bell (Paul and Anne). She was the youngest of six siblings: Marguerite (Marg), Alice, Marie, Patrick (Pat), Christine, and Jeanette. 

She spent her early years playing with neighbourhood children, as they explored hills and roads of Powers Addition and beyond. The sisters sang songs while washing up dishes, and Jeanette collected chestnuts and played (school) with her sister Chrissy. She attended St. Anne’s Academy, Beattie Elementary, Sahali Junior Secondary and Kamloops Senior Secondary. 

Jeanette’s love of music was apparent from an early age, when she picked up her brother’s guitar and played ‘Bobby McGee’, from ear, after hearing it on the radio. She led her family, friends, and community in song, week after week, in the Gallant home and at Sacred Heart Cathedral. There were many performances in her hometown, with a highlight of being asked to sing, ‘Rhymes and Reasons’, live on stage, for the BCTV Variety Club Telethon, at age 18. 

After high school, Jeanette was one of 11 students hired by the Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music. This dedication to love of music and her goal-oriented nature first obtained her a Bachelor of Music from UBC, later studying specialized voice lessons with the esteemed Dr. Hamm. She had many years of teaching private voice lessons, working with numerous choirs, and adjudicating for the Festival of the Performing Arts all around British Columbia. Her expert skill and joie de vivre inspired voices throughout her years. 

In 1986, she married the love of her life, Doug Madsen, and joined him in a life of love, laughter and adventure. Her explorations changed from her small childhood neighbourhood to years living in Hong Kong and England and traveling abroad with favorites of Bali and Turkey. This distance did not keep her from staying in close contact and chatting for hours with family and friends. Whenever she came home for a visit, silliness ensued, especially with her nieces and nephews. From snow angels and sing songs to lake swimming and roasting marshmallows, creating many fun, lasting memories amongst the chatter. She also had a deep adoration for her dogs, Kieran, Navou and Nika. 

Her overseas life led to her to work with the Hong Kong Children’s Choir, and the Hazlemere Musical Society in the UK. This goal-oriented woman could not return home without a PHD in ethnomusicology from Oxford University. In honor of her Acadian heritage, childhood songs brought new life and understanding. 

After many years, she and Doug Madsen moved back to Canada, first living in Toronto, then Vancouver and finally settling into their forever home in North Saanich with its forested beauty of deer, bunnies, plum trees and long indoor and outdoor tables always ready to host her dear friends and family. Jeanette worked with the Chor Leoni Choir in Vancouver and Havergal College Girls School in Toronto, adding to her impactful community engagements with choral projects around the world. She was also Vice President of the Vancouver Chamber Choir with conductor Jon Washburn, an early mentor in her choral musical life. A voice teacher, composer, conductor, and performer, she also created and published cross-cultural choral collaborations including Yan Zi (The Swallow), Marie Madeleine, Navaie, and Jesous Ahatonnia (Huron Carol). Jeanette gifted the world with lasting song with the publication of two CDs: Journey Without Distance and Winter’s Moon. 

While her life was full and her accomplishments many, it was the way she carried herself through life; she was a survivor of childhood cancer, with a resilience and love of life, that shone brightest for those that knew her. Jeanette had an unparalleled strength of spirit and would not back down to any challenge. She had a listening ear and calming aura for those close to her. And more than anything, Jeanette had this enchanting presence about her that drew people in, adult and child alike, as she filled rooms with effervescent joy, laughter, wisdom and lifelong memories. 

Jeanette was predeceased by her parents, Anne and Paul, her brother Pat, her sister Marg, brothers-in-law Bob Lehto and Jim Therres, and great-grand-niece Joanne. She leaves to remember her with such love: her loving husband, Doug Madsen, her sisters, Christine Gallant (Doug Hamilton), Marie Scott (Doug Scott), Alice Therres, and her brother-in-law Birk Madsen (Karen). Her beloved nieces and nephews: Anne Vezina, Peter Lehto (Marianne), Molly Baruta (Evan), Billie-Jo Crandall (Alva), Conrad Scott (Kristina), Justin Hamilton (Qiqi), Quinn Hamilton (Katie), Callie Porterfield (Dave), and Sienna Hamilton as well as many great-grand nieces and nephews: Jordan Vezina (Sarah), Christina Lehto, Clayton Lehto, Cole Crandall, Amy Crandall, Cory Baruta (Sarah), Ryan Baruta, Samika Hamilton, Dala Hamilton, Braea Hamilton, Isabella Porterfield, and Penelope Porterfield. She also leaves her dear life-long friends Jan, Wendy and Paul (among many others). 

Jeanette is so loved by many and will be deeply missed. We find solace in knowing her music and our memories live on as a lasting echo of her spirit in our hearts. 

We celebrate her life on May 31, 2025, in Vancouver at Shaughnessy Heights United Church, 1550 West 33rd Ave. at 11:00 a.m. 

• Date : 2025-03-11
• Location : Kamloops