Mrs. Janet Cantley from Montréal, Quebec, was the 1978 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1978, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On April 17, 1943, her son, Sergeant Alexander Crawford Cantley, was killed in action while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

On September 13, 1944, another son, Lance Corporal Charles Robin Cantley, was killed while serving with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.

On August 22, 1944, her son-in-law, Leading Seaman John Edward Ball, was killed in action while serving with the Royal Naval Reserve.