Janine COBB Obituary

June 20, 1933 - December 19, 2025 The second of five children, Janine grew up mostly in Ottawa, attending 11 schools and skipping two grades on her way to finishing high school. Higher education was all she wanted but wasn't possible because of family finances. She moved to Toronto and got a job in advertising. She spent a year working in London, England before returning to Canada. Married in Toronto in 1957 to John (Jack) Cobb, the couple soon moved to Montreal where they raised their five kids. Janine registered for night school, going to classes and doing homework after the kids were in bed. It took her 10 years to complete her BA in Sociology and she went on to do her MA, using her bursary money to pay for a housekeeper. She taught at Concordia University and then at Vanier College. Menopause hit but her full-time job with five teenagers at home meant no time for support groups. She did her own research and penned an 8-page newsletter called A Friend Indeed, which she sent to a few friends. An interview on CBC led to inquiries from women across the country. A few days later the mailman delivered a bag full of letters requesting the newsletter. She stopped teaching and started working on the newsletter full-time, growing it to thousands of monthly subscribers. Her book, Understanding Menopause, first published in 1988, was reprinted six times. Acknowledged as a pioneer in women's health, she fought the medicalization of this natural transition and was invited to speak to women's groups throughout North America and abroad. Active in the Unitarian Church and was a long-time board member of Breast Cancer Action Montreal. Predeceased by brother Denis and survived by her siblings, Brian, Elise and Michael. Proud mother of Larry (Gabrielle), Peter (Maria), Julie (Claude), Sarah (William) and Adam (Tamara). And loving Nana to Alexandre, Thomas, Emma, Jack, Jonah, Samuel, Charlie, Rachel, William, Henri, Alice, Eamon, Frances, Harrison and Lyla. She died peacefully, surrounded by her family on December 19th. A service and reception will be held January 10th at 2p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Montreal, 5035 de Maisonneuve Blvd., Westmount.