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JANET N. WARD
1904—1994
orn Janet Nundy in 1904,102 she first
heard of the Bahá’í Faith in 1922 while a student at Cornell University. It was introduced to her by her husband—to—be Nairne Forsyth \Waid103 and the Bahá’í community of Ithaca, New York. Janet became a Bahá’í shortly before her marriage in 1926.104 She had said, “From a little girl, I was looking for a religion that accepted ALL people—even though they never heard ofjesus Christ.”
Forsyth’s career in academia and later industry found the Wards moving across the country. Janet served on the Spiritual Assemblies of Berkeley, California, and Richmond Beach, Washington, and she helped form the Assembly of Tempe, Arizona. She was also on the Geyserville Summer School Committee and the American Indian Committee. During their many years in Berkeley, she worked in statistics for the US Department of Commerce and taught mechanical drawing at the Bentley School.
”’2 December 6, 1904, WeStfield, New York. Her parents were Charles H. Nundy and Bertha M. (Fowler) Nundy.
‘03 See “In Memoriam,” 7778 13/1/1517 W/or/a', vol. XV, PP- 451—53 104 July 17, 1926, in Westfield, New York.
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IN MEMORIAM 1992—1997 165
jam! N. Wad
In 1959, after their three children were grown and married105 and Forsyth had retired, they decided to pioneer to Africa. Their personal property was disposed of, and five trunks of necessities were shipped to East Africa. En route to Uganda they visited the Holy Land, having been granted permission for pilgrimage. Then providence offered them the most unique and honored privilege of their years of service. The Hands of the Cause of God residing in the Holy Land invited them to remain in ‘Akká as custodians of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and the Mansion of Bahjí, a post they accepted and served with devotion. Thousands of Bahá’í pilgrims and visitors to Bahjí remember how lovingly and graciously they were served by the Wards.
In 1969 Janet and Forsyth, because of his illness, planned to return to the United States. Again providence intervened. Forsyth quietly died while walking
105 Nairne Forsyth J11, Alicia Nundy, and Roderic Charles.
in the gardens at Bahjí and was laid to rest in the Bahá’í Cemetery in Haifa. Instead of returning to her homeland, Janet went on to assist in the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of Trinidad and Tobago and then travel taught in Belize, Taiwan, the Caroline Islands, and the British Isles. She pioneered to Bermuda and later to the Bahamas.
She returned to California, and while the last years ofjanet’s life were filled with pain and physical suffering, yet she persevered in attracting souls, serving on the Local Assembly of Santa Clara, keeping her home open to firesides, and performing volunteer community work. A dedicated Bahá’í of almost sixty years, Janet N. Ward passed away in Santa Clara, California, July 20, 1994. Upon hearing the news of her death, the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l—Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum wrote to the family:
I was sorry to hear of the passing of Janet. She was a woman with much personality and such capacity for making permanent friends. I always remember when she and Forsyth were in Bahjí and what an asset they were when they served at the World Centre.
Janet will be remembered by people the world over for her generous heart, her radiant spirit, and her life of pure and faithful service to the Cause of God.
Mary Ann Garxki
