Waveney Job

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Jennifer Waveney Lorraine Job (“Waveney Job” or “Ms. Job”), also known as “Waveney,” “Jenny,” or “Jen,” who transitioned to glory on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the age of 74 in Madoc, Ontario, after an illness.

A beloved, committed, and insightful educator and community advocate, Ms. Job taught elementary students for many years with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). In the later years of her career, she supported TDSB families as a Community Support Worker. She was also an entrepreneur, singer, writer, photographer, and philanthropist.

Jennifer Waveney Lorraine Job was born in Guyana on October 18, 1950, to the late Dora Dannette and Sylvanus David.

Waveney immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1963. As a teenager, she attended Jarvis Collegiate Institute. In the early 1980s, she spent some time in Albany, New York, and became integrated into the East African immigrant community there. During those years, she travelled to and worked in West Africa, and she also spent time in Guyana, where she contributed to community initiatives in her home country.

Waveney worked for many years with the Toronto District School Board: first, as a beloved elementary school teacher, and later, as a Community Support Worker. She was known for her firm but loving approach to teaching, her compassionate heart, her love for her African heritage and the African Diaspora, and her commitment to empowering marginalized populations, particularly the Black community. Outside of work, Waveney was a faithful member of the Anglican Church, attending All Hallows Anglican Church in East York, and later St. Bartholomew Anglican Church in the heart of Toronto. She will be remembered fondly by her fellow parishioners for her distinct soprano voice during hymns.

On August 22, 1992, she married the love of her life, Gary McLean, whom she met at church. Together, they travelled the world, often taking their young nieces along on their adventures. They also enjoyed discussing good books, watching British shows and movies, and spending time in their garden.

In 2014, Waveney retired to her home in Tweed, Ontario, with her husband and their cherished dog, Tanzi. During her retirement, she dedicated her time, energy, and resources to supporting many causes, including the Heart of Hastings Hospice Fashion Show, Tweed and Company Theatre, Syrian Refugee Resettlement, Tweed Library, and the Tweed Food Bank.

Waveney is survived by her husband, Gary McLean, and her bonus sons, Jesse and Sean McLean; her siblings—brothers Patrick Jobe, Daniel Job, and Ronald; and her sister, Yvette Anderson (Denroy); her nephews and nieces, Clint Keane (Nicole), Ndija Anderson-Yantha (Matthew), Ashley Clarke (T.J.), Adele Huggett, Sarah Genus (Daniel), Lydia Job, and Daniel Anderson; great-nephews and great-nieces, Liam, Jade, Alexandra, Mya, Andreko, Amar’e, London, Laela, and Ethan; as well as her many, many cousin-siblings.

She is predeceased by her mother, Dora Dannette; stepfather, Alexander Amos Dannette; aunts, Ismay (Dora) Job, Lillian Maude Campbell, Carmen Diana Butts, and Ellen Bollers; cousins, Dawn Campbell and Joel Bollers; and many ancestors.

Waveney is greatly missed by her dear friends, Joan, Ron, Julianna, Vicki, Maggie, Diana, Anjani, Geoff, and Howard, just to name a few, as well as her former students. She will be remembered as a kind and lovely person, full of joy and life, with a regal sense of style and class like no other; as a proud Canadian, who could be seen cycling through town on her red trike; and as a gifted teacher who worked creatively and tirelessly with inner-city children and their families.

A memorial party will be held in her honour on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at The Lion’s Hall in Tweed, Ontario, starting at 2 p.m.