To all who knew her, Janet’s invariable good humour and genuine interest and compassion for others left lasting impressions. With John, she shared a passion for nature and travel and became an accomplished hiker and scuba diver. They shared many adventures in places as diverse as the French Alps and the southern coast of Tasmania and explored extensively the stunning desert scenery and coastline of the Western US. Janet’s other great interest was literature, particularly the classics.
Left:
Scuba Diving in the Caribbean in 1995
In 1999 Janet was diagnosed with an extremely rare and mostly untreatable form of cancer. In the nine years after diagnosis, she endured five major surgeries and five chemotherapy sessions, several experimental. Throughout her long and difficult path with cancer, her complete refusal to allow her life to be defined by the disease and her astonishing courage in the face of a grim prognosis were an inspiration to many. After every treatment, she made a rapid recovery and launched into planning the next great travel adventure.
Below:
Exploring Anasazi Ruins in New Mexico, August 2006
Janet Cossins (née Hardaker) died on March 31, 2008. From 1972 until 1978 Janet was a pupil at the Sir John Nelthorpe School in Brigg, where she laid the foundation for her career in education. Daughter of Ronald and Kathleen Hardaker of Wrawby, Janet spent most of her childhood in Wrawby and encouraged by her parents, sat BA and PGCE degrees specializing in education at Newcastle between 1978 and 1982. It was in Newcastle that Janet met John Cossins, and they were married in December 1982 at the chapel in Wrawby (now a private residence). In their 25 years of marriage, Janet and John lived in Northamptonshire, France, Connecticut, York, The Netherlands (briefly), California and finally Arizona. Janet taught at various schools in several countries, and taught English to adults in France.
Janet is survived by her parents, her sister Julia Hardaker and by her husband. A memorial bench has been placed in the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona, and Janet has her own website at:
web.mac.com/johncossins/Janet_Cossins
Below:
Janet with her Parents in 2003
