Obituary of Dr. Janet Christie-Seely

Janet Christie-Seely passed away peacefully in the early hours of Aug 11th after a rapid battle with Alzheimer’s. 

Janet was a vibrant mother, grandmother, family physician, family therapist, author, artist, lecturer and professor, who was recently seeing patients, painting and writing. She had a passionate ‘joie de vivre’, packed her 83 years to their fullest and never tackled anything in half measures. Janet wore many hats (and usually purple scarves) as a creative, intelligent, beautiful, non- judgemental human. She pioneered a family systems approach to family medicine, bridging family therapy and medicine, and founded the Ottawa Satir Learning Centre.   Janet taught locally and internationally, from Azerbaijan to Hong Kong.

Janet will be deeply missed by her husband of 25 years, Tom O. Wright, and by her children and their spouses; Jean (Mark), Alison (Kevin), Andrew (Kathy), and Dugald (Sarah), her step-children: Sara (James) and David, as well as her 9 grandchildren and 6 step-grandchildren. 

Janet always saw the best in people, and lived life to its absolute fullest with enthusiasm and passion. She leaves a legacy of her paintings (of her beloved Scottish and Quebec landscapes), her teachings, her care for a community of patients, and her family, all imbued with her revolutionary spirit of meaningful interaction, pioneering innovation and desire to help people. 

A Celebration of Janet’s Life will occur at 11:00 a.m. (EDT) on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Pinecrest Remembrance Chapel, 2500 Baseline Road, Ottawa. Those who are unable to attend in person may view the service by clinking the Service Link. If friends so desire, memorial donations made to International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada or The Virginia Satir Global Network would be greatly appreciated.