Kenneth Frederick Janisse
December 21, 1940 – August 16, 2025

Kenneth Frederick Janisse passed away at 2 a.m. on Saturday, August 16 surrounded by love and care at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.

There is no way to sum up a life that is bigger than life. Ken was a presence never to be ignored. Throughout his life, he made friends who became family, and ensured that family were always friends.

There was little in-between – he made an indelible impact on everyone around him. You met Ken and were captured by his boundless enthusiasm (always leaving with an almost unbelievable story to tell), or you backed away slowly from the clearly crazy man in front of you, maintaining eye contact in a vain attempt to keep the situation under control.

It was almost impossible to escape his orbit. If you were lucky enough to be his friend, you were his friend for life – and he'd be there for you through thick and thin.

Ken grew up in Riverside, Ontario. The oldest son of an oldest son. His 12 uncles and aunts mostly lived in the same neighbourhood, and so cousin Kenny became a fixture in the Janisse clan, helping out on the family farm, and raising mischief with his uncles and cousins.

Ken's career was one of service. When he turned 18, he skipped town to join the Royal Canadian Navy with his cousin Ron Quinlan. After he left the navy, on a lark he decided to move to Oakville with his friends Benny Benoit and Gene Krawchuk. Little did he know his life would never be the same.

Ken got a job as a Canadian National Railway police officer at the Mimico trainyards. Shortly after, he was hired on at the Oakville Fire Department, the vocation that would define the rest of his life. From Firefighter Ken to Captain Ken to the President of the Oakville Professional Firefighters Association, he took great pride in helping others.

Moving to Oakville changed Ken's life in more ways than that. Shortly after he moved, his friends set him up on a blind date with Wendy Webb – the woman who would be the love of his life.

60 years. They had almost 60 years together. To love, to disagree, to come to agreement. Many thought Wendy a saint for sticking with Ken. Those in the know saw the love and devotion and care he exhibited with her with his actions every day. When Wendy passed away in 2023, Ken missed her presence with all his heart.

Ken leaves behind his devoted son Jeff Janisse and his loving (though sometimes exasperated) daughter Carrie Janisse, his daughter-in-law Heather (Martin) Janisse, his grandchildren Jack Janisse, Sean Janisse, Daryl Richardson and Jocelyn Richardson, and his brothers and sisters, Charlotte (Jack) Sharon, Mary-Lou (John) Duncan, Wayne (Cheryl) Janisse, Leonard (Sue) Janisse, Jolayne Janisse, and Janet Ritosa. His presence at family events will be sorely missed by his many many (many) Janisse and Renaud cousins, his in-laws, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge the exceptional care provided by the staff at the Chartwell Waterford Retirement Home in Oakville, and the amazing PSWs from Bayshore. Together they made dad's final years comfortable and full of activities and friends.

Visitation
Thursday, August 21: 3 -5 p.m. / 7 – 9 p.m.
Kopriva Taylor Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville

Funeral
Friday, August 22: 11 a.m.
St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church. 2415 Rebecca St, Oakville

Reception to follow at St Joseph's Banquet and Conference Center, 300 River Oaks Blvd E, Oakville. We invite everyone to join us at the church or reception to come together, laugh, and share your favourite Ken stories.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital or the Alzheimer's Society of Canada .