Janine Lendi
June 26, 1953 – April 5, 2013
A beloved local massage therapist and world-wide scuba diver and underwater photographer died Friday, April 5 in her home in Friday Harbor.
Janine Lendi was born in California, and loved the ocean and warm, sunny days. Her great passion was scuba diving, and she traveled extensively to view the world underwater and photograph her adventures along the way. She was most at home in the water, and adored all the creatures of the sea. Her e-mail address was mermaidjanine.
Janine’s deep compassion for others led to a lifetime of caring for people, first as a licensed respiratory therapist, and then as a massage therapist. She had a big, generous heart, ready sense of humor, sparkling turquoise eyes, a radiant smile and a vibrant personality, and was always ready for a new adventure.
In 1998, Janine moved from California to Friday Harbor. She loved living on the island and zipped around on one of her many scooters, which she much preferred to her Toyota 4-runner. She always wore dazzling turquoise, magenta, and purple colors, and her garden was a palette of blue, purple, and chartreuse.
Janine said one of the happiest days of her life was when she met Paul Isserlis, a native of Scotland who has lived and worked in Canada since the 1970s. They married in April 2010 and divided their time between San Juan and Salt Spring islands.
In the last few years, medical issues hampered Janine’s mobility—but not her spirit. She will be greatly missed by her husband, her sweet cat Tarna, and her many friends from San Juan and Salt Spring islands, California, and various places around the world.
A celebration of Janine’s life is being planned. Information to come.