Honouring Janelle: Supporting Jake’s Future

On June 1, 2024 Janelle Gunderson passed away at the age of 41.

I met Janelle at Hawrylak Elementary School when our sons were entering kindergarten. We quickly put together that we both work at SaskPower. I got to know Janelle more as our sons became fast friends. She reached out at the end because she recognized her son Jake was going to need the support of his friends. 

While she was a private person, her love for Jake was visible. Janelle was a devoted and passionate mother. Jake was her everything. He brought her so much joy!

Janelle was strong, independent and a compassionate person with a big heart. She advocated for mindfulness and improving mental health. She had a creative flare showcased in her paintings and clever Halloween costumes. She was also a dog lover. Her dog Callie and Jake grew up together.

For 17 years, Janelle was a mechanical engineer and a leader at SaskPower. She was known for her intelligence, her engineering expertise, her commitment to quality – she made sure work was done right – and her infectious laugh. While hard working and dedicated, Janelle had a silly side and was known to enjoy a good prank. Nothing can replace her absence in Jake’s future. But we can ensure her values of curiosity, education and life-long learning live on in Jake by supporting an investment in him.

We want to make an impact for Jake at a time in his life when he’s old enough to understand how much his mom meant to a lot of people. 100% of the funds raised will go directly to an in-trust account for Jake’s benefit (e.g. post-secondary education support) and will be administered by the executor of her estate (her brother) to ensure the existing RESPs are leveraged strategically. 

Thank you for considering supporting a future for the most important person in Janelle’s life. Every little bit helps!

Lara