It is with overwhelming sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and family member, Janet Lorraine (Wells) Balsom, aged 47 of Lower Sackville, who died on May 22, 2026, surrounded by her family and friends. She is survived by her husband Michael, children Angus and Mackinlay, parents Rob and Gwen Wells, and brother Hal (Amanda McGill).
Janet was born August 10, 1978, in Amherst, Nova Scotia to Robert and Gwendolyn (Durno) Wells.
She was a unique, kind, and determined soul who always faced life her way. She dreamt of being a teacher despite the poor job opportunities in Halifax, and when she got her degrees from University of Kings College and Acadia University and there were no opportunities in Nova Scotia, she brought her joy and love to a small Inuit village in Northern Quebec.
She married Michael Balsom on September 1, 2012, and later when she was delivering two ten pound-plus Baby Balsom boys, she said no thank you to the offers of epidurals, not wanting to miss any of the experience.
While earning her M.Ed. in Curriculum Development from Mount Saint Vincent, she began working in Instructional Design. When she tired of working in the military-industrial complex, she quit her job and returned to earn her M.Ed. in Counselling at Acadia University to become a school counsellor, following her calling to help people, children in particular.
And when she was diagnosed with the horrible cancer that would eventually take her, only a year and a half after working in schools as a counsellor, rather than sit around feeling sorry for herself, she wrote a novel and started a YouTube channel to document her cancer journey so that others could learn and stay connected. And finally, during her last days, she refused to take any pain meds stronger than Advil, because she didn’t want to miss one second of life.
Janet felt closest to spirit in nature, so it comes as no surprise that the places she cherished in life were at Camp Wegesegum in Chipman, N.B. where she attended, worked and volunteered for several years, making life-long connections and enriching so many young people’s lives, at her cottage on the Amherst Shore where she enjoyed spending time with her family, and in the forests around First and Second Lake near her home where you could find her giving the trees a good hug. Janet also loved mornings, chocolate and writing.
Not one for small talk, Janet frequently brought conversations to a real place. She held space for the stories and feelings of others, whether it was her children, a friend or a receptionist. Janet found something good in every person and spent her life collecting people (just like her beloved rocks!) and giving them unconditional love, and that love was returned a thousand-fold, most evident in the outpouring of love and support for Janet and her family over the past two and a half years. Her spirit lives on in her husband, in her children, in her family, and in everyone who ever had the privilege of knowing her.
A private graveside service will be held on Monday as Janet arranged for a green burial. Visitation will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 7-9pm and a celebration of life will be on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 1pm (live streaming through Facebook and YouTube), both at First Baptist Church Halifax. Please dress in your most colourful clothes – Janet has requested bright colours for her celebration of life! Arrangements entrusted to Personal Care Cremations & Memorial Services.
In lieu of flowers, Janet has asked that any donations be made to Feed Nova Scotia or the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and she also invites you to spend a couple hours getting to know someone you dislike. As Janet said in her final YouTube video, “There is good in everyone” and “The point of life is to learn and love.” Her cancer journey can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@janetwellsbalsom.
