A woman described as “a granny to everybody” and known to a huge number of people in Helston has died at the age of 76.
Janet Daly passed away on November 3, at her home in the town.
With such a wide variety of jobs through her life, Janet was known by a great many people – and shopping trips to Tesco used to take ages, as she stopped to chat with everyone she knew.
She worked as a lunchtime supervisor at St Michael’s Primary School for a time, then moved on to lunches at Helston Community College before starting work in shops in Helston.
From working in a delicatessen to a card shop in town, Trims fruit and veg shop and then Warren’s Bakery, Janet also had jobs as a daffodil picker, worked in Fine Fare where M&Co has been based in recent years, and also in the kitchen of Jade Garden Chinese takeaway, where she particularly enjoyed looking after the owners’ grandchildren.
Her daughter Carol-Jane said children were Janet’s great joy in life, and she babysat for many.
“She just loved children and they would gather around her. Children would always make a beeline for her because she had such a kind soul.
“That was her thing – she was always looking after children.
“She was a granny to everybody,” she said.
Carol-Jane went on to add how generous her mother was to everyone, saying: “She would have given you her last penny if she thought it would bring you happiness. And she didn’t know how to say no – she would do anything for anybody.”
Janet came to Helston with the Royal Navy, based at RNAS Culdrose.
Initially trained as a nurse, she had subsequently signed up for the Navy after hearing tales from her brothers about “a tot of rum every day and free cigarettes” – two of Janet’s favourite things. She also had ambitions for travelling.
Alas for Janet, what they had neglected to mention was that the Wrens received neither rum nor cigarettes, and were not allowed to serve onboard ship in those days.
However, it led her to Helston, where she met husband Jim and they went on to have two children – daughters Carol-Jane and Jocelyne. Later she and Jim became grandparents of two grandsons.
They bought a house in Wendron Street, where Janet went on to live for 50 years.
Janet’s funeral took place last Thursday at St Michael’s Church in Helston, followed by interment at Helston Cemetery, next to Jim.
Money was collected for Young Lives vs Cancer (CLIC Sargent) and while still being counted is believed to be in the hundreds.
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