Janina in her Purple Glory!
Janine Marie Desjarlais
Janine was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 22nd, 1963. She left us on May 21st 2024 at the age of 60. She leaves behind her loving Mother, Eleanor, her beloved son Aidan, Alex, her spouse Jurgen, Alisha, her former husband Tim, her sisters, Heather and Lauren and her soul sister Claudia, her three brothers, Rod, Brent and Cameron, her nieces and nephews, Joshua, Brooklyn, Parker, Holly and Robin, along with many Aunts, Uncles, cousins, very close friends and her beloved cat, Mishka. She was a devoted Mother to her son Aidan and loved her family dearly!
Janine always said that her gift of music came from God! She was a singer, a master vocalist with a voice that was both as powerful as the roar of the ocean, and yet as sweet as honey on the lips of an angel. She was also an exceptional songwriter. She has left behind nearly fifty incredible recordings that display her heavenly talents. They are available on all streaming services under her stage name, Janina Russell.
She knew in her heart who she was as a gifted singer and song writer and as a sensitive, unique individual which she expressed through her music. She was kind and loving to everyone she met, often stopping and talking to the homeless and those in need of comfort.
She leaves behind a legacy of songs for her loved ones, her family, her friends and for the thousands of children she sang to throughout her career. The children adored Janina. After a show they would rush up to hug her, never wanting to leave her sweet, bubbly energy. Along with entertaining children with music, she was a master at face painting and arm painting for the kids.
She lived her truth by honouring God through her message of kindness, love and compassion.
We will keep her memory alive in our hearts forever.
The sweetest of flowers
Gone from our sight
Somewhere are blossoming
Blessed and bright………
Although we can’t see them,
Forever they’ll be
A beautiful part of our heart’s memory.
(This obituary was written by Janine’s Mom, Eleanor and Yurgen)
MY LIFE STORY
Writing from Sister Heather
Janine was a beautiful baby with bright red hair. She was gentle in nature,
and was very motherly from a young age, taking great care of her three
younger siblngs, the triplets, Lauren, Rod and Heather, as they grew. She
was always kind and never ever raised her voice. She would hold their little
hands in hers. She patiently helped the little ones with dressing, teaching
them to tie their shoe laces and taking them to play in the park. As a young
girl, she even had the wisdom to rescue the triplets from a house fire. She
was always fun, and she was an awesome big sister.
Janine had developed a love for music from an early age. This was evident as
early as a few months old. When she was put in her seater chair, she would
coo for hours to those who were around her and within her surroundings. In
her younger years, she could be heard belting out a tune on a regular basis.
She entered the local talent show, at the age of 10, and won first prize for her
vocal abilities. She struggled with school but found her natural path through
music and she was able to express herself with such great passion and
clarity as a musician and lyricist. Music really allowed her to shine and show
her true abilities. She stayed true to herself, following her musical path,
knowing it was her true calling.
Janine was a beautiful and feisty teen, often seen with her soul sister and
best friend, Milena. They were like two peas in a pod, always together. Their
friendship would be a long term and endearing one. Little did they know, their
friendship would last for decades, through thick and thin, until Milena’s
passing. Janine continued this friendship with Milena’s daughter, Daniella.
Janine had more courage than most and she was not shy to stand strong for
her beliefs. She stood up to many bigger than herself. She had an incredible
sense of who she was and what she stood for. She was proud of her Metis
heritage and her faith in God and she was incredibly compassionate and
loving. Her only wish was that the world would be as compassionate as she is!
(written by sister Heather)
Talent Contest Story!
As a child she sang constantly. At around the age of eleven, or twelve, Janine entered a local talent contest at a TV station. She sang a couple of songs from the rock opera, Phantom of the Night, poplular in the movie theatres at the time.
Her friend, Melena’s brother organized everything. He found the music for the songs and gave it to the band at the TV studio to play as Janine sang.
During the taping of the show Janine stopped the band after a verse. ‘TOO FAST’ she said! The band stopped, shocked that such a little girl would question how they were playing the song. Fortunately, one of the members saw Janine’s talent and took the time to figure things out the way Janine wanted. They consulted each other, played slower and also had to change the key to fit her voice better. Janine surprised everyone with her magnificent voice! Even at that age her talent shone through!
JANINE WON the CONTEST! She was the youngest contestant, but she won first place!
Janina often told me this story. One very sad part of the this story always stayed with her and hurt her so badly.
A week after the taping of the show it was to be aired on television. She and Melena and Melena’s brother were so excited to watch the talent contest that Janina had won! I believe she said her Mother and some of her sisters and brothers were at the TV ready to watch the show as well.
The show started, and just as Janina was singing with the band, Janina tells me her step-Father came in to the room and turned off the Television Set! Everyone pleaded to watch the show, but he refused to turn the TV back on. So, she never got to watch herself on TV.
As a first prize winner she was given several bookings at music festivals and such, but no one was there to help her get a band together or anything. Her Mother took her to a couple of events and told Janina just to sing by herself in front of the audience. But Janina wasn’t ready. So it all just fizzled away for a few years.
(written by Yurgen)
MY FATHER - RUSSELL DESJARLAIS
Janine’s Father, Russell Desjarlais, was also a musician; a musician of the highest order. Apparently his voice rang clear and loud and filled up the concert hall with wonder. Above you can listen to a record that he made back around 1960 – His own composition called ‘STAY WITH ME’
He also won a talent contest, actually many talent contests, 42 to be exact. In around 1960 WJRB Radio in Winnipeg had weekly live talent contests on the radio. Janine’s Dad pretty well won every time! It was based on crowd appreciation!
He stood on stage with his guitar, his brother and a friend on bass and drums, and blew everyone away with his high energy country swing style music! Not only was he a singer, but he apparently picked a pretty mean guitar as well!
Janina never knew her Father. Janina was born two and a half months after her Father died in a horrific car crash. He and the band were coming home late one Saturday night from a ‘gig’. It was a time when no one wore seat belts and drinking and driving was common. So sad, the whole band was killed in a head-on collision. She never knew her Father, but it is obvious that this is where her natural talent came from!
At age 15 Janine was invited to a family reunion on her Father’s side of the family. Her Mother long since re-married and had four children with another man. So along with Janine and her older brother Brent, the family was raising six children. Three of them triplets! Yes, triplets!
When Janine travelled to the reunion with her Grandfather and Auntie on her Father’s side that she had just met, she was shocked. “Am I an Indian?” she remembers saying at the time. Yes! Her Grandparents were Ojibwe and Cree. They spoke the Michif language. Her Father and all the brothers, sisters, and the whole family were Metis. At age 15 she discovered she was also Metis, part indigenous!
She remembers everyone at the reunion being so happy, laughing, coming over to her and telling her about her Father, how such a great guy he was, and how he could sing and play the guitar! Janine could not believe it! Too much to process. And Janine had strawberry blond hair from her Mother’s Polish side of the family, so she felt completely out of place. Yet, everyone made her feel comfortable and doted over her.
She often told the story of watching her Uncle Victor drawing a large eagle on the floor with cigarette ashes. Everyone one had a talent, and they were all musicians! Grandpa ……. played fiddle and had taught everyone about music, how to play, how to sing and perform. Pretty well the whole family was in various bands and were quite accomplished musicians and singers!
(Written by Yurgen)
TEENAGE YEARS with DESJARLAIS Family
JANINE LEARNS GUITAR!
After the meeting with her family from her Father’s side, Janine spent a Summer with her Auntie Gloria. Auntie Gloria, her Father’s Sister was lead singer in a band and has a most magnificent singing voice as well. She had recorded many songs that were playing on the radio, and she is the first indigenous woman to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Check out her music, it is most spectacular.
Here is her song I REMEMBER YOU WELL that she wrote for her brother who passed away. It’s a special song we can also sing for Janina!
Auntie Gloria and her sister Auntie Barbara taught Janine how to play the guitar! Janina would often talk of her first guitar lesson with Auntie Barbara. Janina actually got to play on her Father’s original guitar too! Auntie Barbara was also a fantastic singer and was teaching Janina how to do harmonies.
An exceptional Guitarist and Singer, Uncle Lionel would inspire Janina with his Sunday evening live concerts on facebook. An encyclopedia of songs and stories to tell. Many more stories to come!
(written by Yurgen)
BACK TO WINNIPEG
After spending a Summer with her Auntie Gloria in Calgary Janine went back to Winnipeg. She was inspired now. Realizing that she was from a musical family validated the urges she had inside to sing and create music. She taught herself to play guitar better and would often sing songs at local coffee houses in the Winnipeg area.
She hung out with her childhood friend Melena. They had lots of fun together going to parties and social outings. However, Janine was not really much of a party girl. Janine didn’t like drinking or doing drugs in the same way that Melena did, and would often go home early.
Around this time she started working at several jobs. She took a salon course on hair styling and beauty treatments, nails and such and got a good job at a salon. Her Mother had become a real estate agent and helped Janina buy a ‘side by side’ in the Winnipeg area. Janina worked hard to make the payments, taking on other jobs as necessary and taking in roommates and renting out rooms to keep up with all the payments.
(Written by Yurgen)
HUSBAND TIM
It was around this time that Janine and Tim met at a dance. They hit it off right away. Tim gave Janine his phone number and asked her to call him if she would like to go out sometime. Janine was eager to see him again. Unfortunately, she lost the piece of paper with his phone number on it. About a week or so went by and Tim figured that she wasn’t interested and never expected to hear from her.
Yet, somehow Janina was able to contact him through one of his friends and they started dating.
They were married on Tim’s birthday, July 11th in the year of 1987. It was a beautiful big wedding at the Park outdoors. You can see pictures on the photos page. They were a beautiful, young, happy couple and started building a life together. Tim was also an artist, a visual artist. His paintings and drawings are astonishing. He began to work in visual design and learned how to use photoshop and other computer programs and got lots of work as a graphic artist.
Janina went to music school at this time, taking her first formal music training. She took voice lessons from an excellent voice teacher who left a lasting impression on her and taught her many of the singing skills she used her entire life! The classes at music school did not go on past the first year as they were quite expensive and both Janine and Tim had to work to keep up with the bills.
Both of them being artists, they decided to move to the Vancouver area. In August of 1991 they moved to an apartment in Burnaby near Metrotown. That Fall Janina went to music school at VCC in Vancouver and received her first formal music training. She took voice lessons from an excellent voice teacher who left a lasting impression upon her. This teacher taught her many of the singing skills she has used her entire life! The classes did not go past the first year as they were expensive and both Janine and Tim had to work to keep up with the bills. It was at this time that Janina started her business entertaining children.
They had money left when selling their side by side in Winnipeg and received some help from their parents. In the Fall of 1992 they moved in to the house in Pitt Meadows on Greenhaven Court. The house where Aidan was born, and where Janine would live for the rest of her life.
(written by Yurgen)
BABY AIDAN BORN - July 11th, 1995
Aidan was born in 1995. He shares the same birthday as his Father, both born same day of the year – July 11th! Pretty awesome!
While Janina was carrying Aidan through her pregnancy she recorded her magnficent album, COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW. The release of the album pretty well co-incided with the birth of her beautiful son, Aidan! Born in Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster he was a happy, healthy baby.
He had lots of energy growing up. Janina would often say that those years were the happiest years of her life, the young years when Aidan was a baby and a toddler. It is the time she had met Claudia who had just given birth as well. They would have many outings together with their babies and became best of friends.
Aidan was very creative as a child, and already a bit of a ‘daredevil’. Later in life he would ride motorcycles and enjoy cliff jumping and such. This started showing up right away as he was a young toddler. Janina often talked about how Aidan would be interested in what was going on outside the window. He would play games sliding and rolling down the hallway, bumping the walls, or nearly falling down the stairs. He liked action, he liked to keep busy! Mom and Dad were delighted to have such an active, lively, healthy boy!
(written by Yurgen)
Soul Sister CLAUDIA
Soul Sisters
We met as young mothers at the Community Center in Maple Ridge. The moment I saw her – it felt like a magnetic pull …
I was so drawn to her that one of my first words to her were: “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!”
We looked at each other for an awkward moment, then burst out
– giggling, laughing, hugging –
We have been riding the roller coaster of life from that moment on for 27 years, side-by-side
– giggling, laughing, hugging –
and braiding our tears at times, too!!
We had such a joyful, child-like relationship, part of why I called her my “Fairy Best Friend”.
Also, you know the saying – your eyes are the mirrors to your soul – , well, when we held hands and looked into each other’s eyes (souls) all we saw was true love, innocent happiness and overwhelming joy! So it never lasted more than 8 seconds, before we burst out laughing, it was just nearly impossible not to, so silly…
Never in my whole life, all my travels and all the people I met along my path did I ever experience such an unexplainable strong bond with anyone in this world as I shared with Janina. Heart to Heart Soul Sisters indeed, how blessed I feel to have found her. And to cherish all those magic moments and opportunities to make happy memories of us that will live in my heart until we meet again.
May your spirit grow wings
made of the notes of music
dancing along with your voice of an Angel
And carry your Soul where it
longs to be.
Soar like an Eagle
let your soul spread its wings
Shine bright like a diamond
like Fairy Dust sprinkled in the wind
Heart to Heart forever
And I’ll always treasure the joy
our memories bring.
Janina was an amazing woman, truly beautiful – inside and out. A very talented painter and musician with the most incredible voice, but also an amazing songwriter.
Combining her gifts through her work brought joy, laughter, music and unforgettable memories to so many people! (I would know, cuz I was her “little helper” during festivals, doing face painting, but mostly also her photographer)
Her connection with children was just magical, her silliness, playfulness and innocent inner beauty shining outwards making her become a real “Fairy Princess” in children’s eyes.
(Written by Claudia)
(See her TREE OF LOVE page for more from Claudia)
Opportunity in Nashville!
Janina gets offer from Sony: In the early 2000s Janina attended a songwriting workshop in Nashville. She had been inspired by a famous songwriter and her music and was determined to rise up to be a professional singer and songwriter. Her Father had gone to Nashville to record, and Janina felt she needed to go to Nashville as well.
At the workshop there were about 30 woman from all over North America. As part of the workshop each student had to create a short song and come up on stage to sing it in front of everyone. If I remember correctly, Janina said she was last to go up on stage.
She sang her song and blew everyone away – they clapped so loudly and the presenter told her that her voice was magnificent and that the world needed to hear her voice.
As the workshop ended, and everyone mingled around chatting and such, Janina saw a nicely dressed man in a suit waving at her. Janina turned around and looked behind her, thinking that he was waving at someone else. No, he was waving at her. He came over and introduced himself as a talent scout for Sony Records. He gave Janina his card and said come visit my office Monday morning. We would be interested in signing you with Sony Records, if you haven’t already been signed with someone else.
Janina was floored, so excited. Her dreams and all that she had ever wanted in her life was coming true! She thanked him, took his card and he left
Janina went back to her room. She was not feeling well that weekend and needed to rest. With her red hair and light skin Janina was allergic to many things and got colds easily. The next day her plane was to fly back to Vancouver. She thought deeply and carefully about what she should do. When she got back to the hotel room, Tim called from Vancouver. She talked to her son Aidan, “Mommy, come home, Mommy I miss you!” Aidan cried on the phone. Yes, and Janina missed him as well.
Janina decided that night that if she took a contract with Sony she would have to travel and be away from her son too much! She had heard of how many children of famous people were messed up because their parents were so busy and never around. She didn’t want that for Aidan. She decided not to meet with the agent from Sony and just went back to Vancouver.
(Written by Yurgen)
A Single Mother and A Sensational Singer!
During the time of around the year 2000 to the time when I moved in with her in 2019, Janina recorded many extraordinary songs. She would save money, find opportunities with various producers and record whenever she got the chance. I believe her brothers Rod and Cam also gave her money to help record her songs.
These songs flowed out of her. She needed to record them and release them to the world. When she met Paul he helped her organize these songs and got them all out to the world through CD baby in 2011. They are now on the internet in many, many different streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc. If you search JANINA RUSSELL on google you can find all of these songs. Her songs were about healing, helping the world, some songs about her loved ones as well.
At this time she was a single Mother and raising her son, Aidan as best as she could. Fortunately, Aidan’s Father Tim lived close and they worked together raising Aidan. It wasn’t easy for both of them, but Aidan grew to be a fine young man with strong values. Janina was often conflicted with pursuing her career or looking after her son. She chose her son every time!
(written by Yurgen)
Children's Entertainer - Meeting Mr. I
2000 to 2005: For about five years Janina and I were together. A close loving couple having all sorts of adventures. You can read the full story on how we met on the MY YURGEN PAGE.
Along with yearly shows at the Teddy Bear Picnic, we performed at the Agrifair, Chilliwack, Abbostford, Aldergrove, Maple Ridge. Plus Janina did the Variety Club Telethon. We travelled and had gigs in the Okanagan, Powell River, Pender Island and other fun places. We had so much fun doing the shows and entertaining the children!
We had talked about living together, but it was a sensitive situation as we were both single parents. We were both committed first to our children, to make sure they were happy and cared for. I had the two girls, Sarah and Alisha, and Janina had Aidan. All growing up going to elementary school, involved with friends and such. They also had connections with their other parents too and Janina and I felt it would disrupt their lives too much if we all moved in together.
Thinking back now I so wish that we had moved in together. It was very difficult for both of us to be single parents. I think we would have helped each other and it all would have worked out.
Janina and I were very happy, seeing each other when we can. We focused on our music, our love. I bought recording equipment and did some early recordings of Janina’s beautiful voice in her kitchen. I was green and did not know much about recording, but still have some awesome songs that she invented.
Janina was also setting up recording sessions with various producers that we hired when we could afford it. Peter Allen always helped out for free. He was the producer for CHIDREN ARE THE HEALERS OF THE WORLD. Watch the VIDEO HERE!
Another Breakup - Life with Paul
2005 to 2015:
Around 2005 or 2006 Janina and I broke up. I remember feeling quite frustrated with everything. I gave as much as I could, and yet it seemed nothing was ever enough for Janina at the time. Looking back I believe she must have been going through difficult times keeping the house together and taking care of Aidan. I wish we hadn’t broken up. As I had said I wish we would have moved in together.
Shortly thereafter, not sure when, as I wasn’t around, but Janina met Paul. He wasn’t a musician, but he did support her music and helped promote her music and set up her songs through CD Baby in 2011. Her songs were now available on all streaming services throughout the world. CD baby also set up her songs through youtube. He also made sure all her songs were registered through Socan. He did a lot to help Janina.
Around the year 2015 Janina and I ran in to each other again and the spark was still there. It took about a year I think for Janina to break up with Paul and have him move out, and it took me about three years to break up with the woman I was with and sell the house and move in with Janina.
(written by Yurgen)
Back to Mr. I
In February 2019 I moved in the Janina to the house on Greenhaven Court! It had been a very stressful couple of years previous for me, settling everything and creating the space in my life to be with Janina again. But we did it! I helped her out with funds from the sale of my house and settled in and had many wonderful years together.
The plan was for us to sell the house on Greenhaven Court and get a smaller place of our own in the ‘country’ or a quieter place, perhaps even close to her family in the Okanagan. We made plans through the first year and were going to sell the house in the Spring. But then Covid happened! Wow – covid really affected us negatively. Not only did it take away both of our incomes, but it prevented us from even considering moving and selling the house.
That first Spring and Summer Janina and I did lots of music. We did festivals and big stages such as the Teddy Bear Picnic and Agrifair. I also came along when she would entertain at smaller parties. We were very close in purpose, bringing messages of hope and joy to the children and to the world! We also had a chance for some holidays together. We went to Mexico. We rented an RV in the Summer and toured around BC a bit. We have so many special moments.
When covid hit, and we lost a big part of our income we started to look online for other ways to make money. Janina found a course on how to write music for film and television. We signed up for the course. I also updated my recording equipment to modernize our home studio. I also took courses on how to record to update my skills. Even though I had recorded and produced 18 albums of music for children with my old equipment I could see the quality was not good enough.
We both learned a lot and we both wrote a lot of songs, together and separately. Some of these songs are on the MUSIC FOR THE WORLD PAGE, while many are still in files on my computer that still need to be completed properly. I do intend to keep going through these songs and putting each one out to the world when it is ready!
(written by Yurgen)
Her Awesome Voice and Her Best Recordings
Janina’s voice got better and better with age! Like wine, the flavour of her voice mellowed with a thick richness as time went on. She also gained incredible control of her huge vocal range. She was able to sing four octaves, and would often switch octaves in her songs and you can hear on the recordings. You can also hear the richness of her voice in her more recent songs as well.
I’ve been teaching music to children for 40 years and have heard many, many voices. I can tell right away if a child has music potential or not, just by hearing them sing something simple such as Twinke Twinkle Little Star! Janina’s voice was exceptional! I’m not just speaking from favouritism, I am speaking from experience as a professional musician and music teacher. Many times I would get goosebumps hearing her sing. She had such a unique talent. She had one of the top voices in the world!
I know the world needs to hear her voice and that is why I am doing this website and continuing to promote her music and her message!
Her message was KINDNESS – LOVE & KINDESS! and perhaps that is why the world does not know her music as well as it should. Much of the world is in despair. The news, movies, videos and such focus too much on violence and hate. The time for a loving world of peace and harmony is still to come. This is when Janina’s music will be better known. Janina’s songs will also help getting to this kind of a world.
So please pass along her songs, pass along her message of hope and love. And be kind to each other!
(written by Yurgen)
2024 - Final Days
I did write an extensive detailed story of what happened the last few month of Janina’s life. But do not feel ready yet to share it to the world. Suffice to say that Janina’s health deteriorated rapidly, especially I remember right after the solar eclipse in April I had such an awful feeling in my gut. Things were just going wrong all the time. It was so sad the way it happened, tragic really. I so wish I could have done something more. Lots of replays in my mind about how things went and how I wish they would have gone.
Nevertheless, Janina left behind a magnificent legacy of songs and impressions to the world. She inspired so many people with her music, especially children!
I am forever grateful for her love. No onc can ever love like her. She gave everything in her love and in her music. You can hear it in her voice.
Her message again is LOVE and KINDNESS. Please be kind to each other!
(Note from Yurgen: I am telling a lot of this from memory of the stories Janina told me. If I have something incorrect, please let me know!
If you want to add to the story send writings or photos to me through the CONTACT PAGE)
Keep peace in your heart!