Janet Dolores Kenyon Galbraith, known by many as Mary Poppins of Ojai, died on Wednesday. She had celebrated her birthday last Sunday and was rushed to Westerly Hospital on Monday where she died after a week of intensive care. She was 77 years old.
Mrs. Galbraith was an advocate for widows, children and the needy. She was an encourager and a dreamer, her family said. “My grandma could have been the drum major in a marching band,” said Mae Waugh, her granddaughter. “Her motto to life was ‘just keep marching.’”
Born in Norwich, Conn., Mrs. Galbraith spent the first 25 years of her life in Conn. She was an active youth, in her community, church and school and continued to lead an active life. “Grandma was a woman before her time,” said Mae. “There were so many things she wanted to be, places she wanted to go, but her family and her situation limited her.” Mrs. Galbraith had wanted to go to college and become a schoolteacher, but her parents did not want her to go away. So she went on a two-week vacation to Calif. and never came back.
Mrs. Galbraith spent 50 years of her life in Calif. and met her late husband, Hugh Galbraith, there and together they had a daughter. Mr. Galbraith died four years later. Mrs. Galbraith then raised her daughter on her own.
There were few widow support networks at that time and so Mrs. Galbraith created her own. She was active with Robert Schuller at the Crystal Cathedral where she led conventions, published articles and traveled around the nation speaking on being a widow.
“I know my dad very well because my mom kept his memories alive,” said Nanci Waugh. “And I will keep her memories alive so my grandchildren will know her.”
For most of her working life, Mrs. Galbraith worked in office administrative positions, but after she had retired, she responded to a newspaper ad that asked, “Mary Poppins, where are you?” She answered, “Here I am!”
For over a decade, Mrs. Galbraith was known as Mary Poppins of Ojai and cared for more than 50 babies and children. “My grandma had a way of making children feel special and making babysitting fun,” said Mae.
“Grandma had lots of stories to tell – she loved to talk,” said Margaret Waugh. “And I loved to talk with her.” Ms. Waugh’s favorite memories of her grandmother include having tea parties and making Jell-O.
In raising her daughter and granddaughters, Mrs. Galbraith always reminded her girls to use their manors, because one day they might get to dine at the White House. Her dream of going to the White House came true in 2004 when Mae earned the Gold Congressional Award and they traveled to Washington D.C. for he to receive it. Mrs. Galbraith overcame a broken hip to be able to make the journey. “My gram always encouraged me to contribute to my society, be my best and pursue higher education,” said Mae. “She instilled her hopes in me and I lived for her.”
Mrs. Galbraith moved to her family’s cottage “Happy Holiday” in Stonington, Conn. in 2005 and lived out the duration of her life on the East Coast with her daughter and granddaughters.
Margaret Waugh recalls it was hard when her grandma first came to live with her because she had to take an active part in helping. “I had to put on her legs,” she said. She meant she helped her grandma put on the stockings she wore.
As she got older, Mrs. Galbraith’s body weakened and deteriorated, but her will and her soul marched on. She loved taking care of her family and it brought her joy to wake them up each morning, her daughter said. “Even though her body is gone, her love remains here,” said Mrs. Waugh.
Mrs. Galbraith is survived by the women she called the “lights of her life:” Nanci Waugh of Stonington, Conn., her daughter; Mae Waugh of Boston, Mass. and Margaret May Waugh, of Stonington, Conn., her granddaughters.
A Memorial service will be held for her at Calvary Chapel in Stonington, Conn. on Wednesday, August 15th at 2:30pm. Her ashes will be buried in the Calvary Memorial Garden, with a piece of her memorialized at Latimer Point.
To send her family a message of remembrance/condolence, please click the link below.