Obituary of Jane Avril Underwood

UNDERWOOD, Jane Avril – age 63, of Carrolls Corner, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family November 2, 2018 in the QE II – VG Site, Halifax. Born in Nantwich, Cheshire, UK, she was a daughter of Joan and the late Peter Underwood.

Jane was the first child of Joan and Peter Underwood. Much of her early life, and later, those of her brothers and sister, was spent moving to different R.A.F. stations every couple of years, around both Britain and Singapore. The regular upheaval of moving homes and changing schools enabled Jane to learn to adapt and react more quickly to change. This situation also created a bond between herself and her two brothers and sister, which provided Jane with her strong leadership and team building abilities. Jane always had a love of the arts; in school she particularly enjoyed painting and pottery. After she started working, Jane used some of the money she earned to pay for night classes in art, to relieve the boredom of her day job. These classes helped to develop her skills, which she used throughout the rest of her life.

 In 1973, instead of moving to Canada with the rest of her family, Jane, instead applied to join the Women’s Royal Naval Service (W.R.N.S.) and was accepted. Initially trained as a Naval Aircraft Engineering Mechanic, Jane began her new career working on Wessex 1 Air Sea Rescue helicopters. She later received a severe spinal injury which rendered her unable to continue to perform that line of work.

 Jane persuaded the Royal Navy to allow her to attend the Royal Naval College Dartmouth. Once she graduated, she became a Training Management Officer and continued to serve with the Women’s Royal Naval Service until she retired in 1990, holding the rank of Second Officer.

After her retirement Jane considered her future, she had always loved to travel and felt this was the perfect opportunity, so she took a trip around the world with some friends visiting many of the countries she had only dreamed about before. During the course of her journey, she decided to move to Canada to be with the rest of her family, so the last visit of her trip was to Nova Scotia, which would eventually become her new home.

Once she immigrated to Canada, Jane had several jobs, one of which was with St John’s Ambulance where she met her wife, Vida. They both later began working for the Correctional Service of Canada. Jane and Vida were married in March 2014 and lived together in Carrolls Corner, Nova Scotia with their two dogs and cat, until Jane was admitted to hospital in May of this year.

Jane is survived by her wife, Vida Woodworth; her mother, Joan; brother, Simon; sister, Sara (Craig Dodge) Underwood. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews across Canada and in Britain, as well her extended family.

She was predeceased by her father, Peter; younger brother, Julian “Jay”.

Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Ettinger Funeral Home, Shubenacadie. A celebration of Jane’s life and a time of fellowship will take place from 2 – 4 pm, Monday, November 19^th in Ettinger Funeral Home, 2812 Highway 2, Shubenacadie.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jane’s memory may be made to: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org  

Condolences, words of comfort and memories of Jane may be shared with the family at: www.ettingerfuneralhome.com