CONWAY, Janice Margaret (née Smith). Passed away after a brief illness at Te Whare Manaaki O Tamahere on Thursday, 10th September 2026, aged 70 years. Beloved wife and soulmate of Don for 41 amazing years. Much-loved mother and mother-in-law of Brendan, and Gareth & Paula. A treasured Nana to her six grandchildren.
A service to celebrate Jan’s life will be held at Te Awamutu Presbyterian Centre, Mutu Street, Te Awamutu, on Friday, 18th September 2026 at 1.00pm, followed by a private cremation. Messages to the Conway Family may be sent c/- 262 Ohaupo Road, Te Awamutu 3800, or left in Jan’s online tribute book at www.rosetown.co.nz.
3 Messages:
To my beautiful Aunty Jan Conway ❤️
Today is your 70th birthday.. instead of messaging you Happy Birthday, sending you flowers and receiving a ” thank you Sweetie” response from you.
We instead are sadly saying goodbye to you & laying you to rest.
Today is still a celebration of you! The woman who has always been a fierce, supportive and reliable aunty.
You will be missed more than you realised.
Knowing that you are now reunited with dad, Nana & Pop brings some comfort.
Another angel looking over us.
Until we meet again.. love you! Sport! Xxx
In loving memory of Aunty Jan, who I often referred to as Aunty Chan.
Some of my best childhood memories are of playing at your house in Mount Roskill with Gareth, Brendan and Danielle. I also fondly remember you, Dad and Steven yelling and cussing at the television as you passionately supported the All Blacks. Those moments have stayed with me over time.
In later years, whenever I visited Dad in TA, I always enjoyed coming over to your place and sitting around the kitchen table, laughing together. I was so pleased for you when you retired and had more time to work on and enjoy your home. I know how much joy you took in renovating it over the years, and when I visited you in July, it was looking so lovely and cosy.
It was heartbreaking to see how much your health had declined in such a short time, but I am very grateful that I got to see you one last time.
I loved your feisty spirit and your determination to maintain your independence. Even when things were difficult, you remained determined to keep going, and I always admired your strength and resilience.
Although we didn’t see each other too often, you will always be remembered when I think of my wonderful childhood growing up in NZ.
I also want to acknowledge the wonderful friendship and support you gave my Mum, Brenda, particularly over the past five years since Dad passed away. I know how much your friendship meant to her during that time, and I will always be grateful that she had you by her side.
Rest peacefully, Aunty. You will be remembered with love.
To Don, Brendan, Garath and family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as you journey through the loss of Jan, she had many hats that she wore through her journey on this earth.
She was a wife, a mum, a nanny, a sister a daughter, a niece, a cousin, a friend, a work colleague and so on
But the greatest thing about Jan, was her love, compassion, kindness, her sense of fun, an amazing human being and like all of us had her not so good sides when her dander got up( a trait from the Hetet side for sure)
Jan has left this earthly realm but she will never leave our hearts and thoughts.
And in Jesus name we pray you will be comforted by the knowledge that Jan is no longer in pain or discomfort, and is at rest.
RIP my beautiful cousin
Love Linda and Ray