When Elizabeth Janusz first dreamed up a plan to deliver hot meals to people in need, she didn’t yet know what it would become. There was no blueprint, no staff, no budget—just a deep belief in community and a few courageous friends willing to lend their time and hearts. One of the first to say yes was Agnes Petrie.
Agnes and Elizabeth were neighbours and close friends. In 1964, when the Courtesy Association officially launched what we now know as Meals on Wheels in Peterborough, Agnes was by Elizabeth’s side. She helped with the earliest deliveries, carrying warm meals and warm smiles to seniors who needed both. Soon after, she took on the role of Treasurer, stewarding the group’s modest resources with care and resolve. In 1966, she was elected President and continued to serve on the Advisory Board even after her term ended.
Agnes wasn’t in it for recognition. Like so many volunteers who quietly shape their communities, she gave her time because she believed in what they were building. A faithful member of George Street United Church and a lover of music and the arts, Agnes filled her life with service, friendships, and joy. Her home was known for its warmth, just like the meals she once helped deliver.
Agnes lived to be 100, and although she passed in 2012, her legacy lives on every day through Meals on Wheels. She reminds us that the strongest foundations are often laid by those who work quietly, faithfully, and with love. It’s people like Agnes who show us that great things begin with a simple act of saying yes—even when the future is uncertain, and the path is just beginning to unfold.
