Johannes Petrus du Plessis

Johannes (Jan) Petrus du Plessis, 79, of Saint John, New Brunswick, passed away on June 23, 2026, after living with pancreatic cancer.

Born on November 7, 1946, in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Jan grew up with a sharp mind, a deep sense of curiosity, and a gift for storytelling that stayed with him throughout his life. He studied Medicine at Stellenbosch University, beginning a vocation that would touch thousands of lives.

Jan was a paediatric cardiologist of exceptional skill and dedication. He began his medical journey at Addington Hospital, where he met the love of his life, Pat. He later served in public hospitals in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg. In 1996, Jan moved to the Middle East to join the Prince Sultan Cardiac Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He went on to work at King Fahad National Guard Hospital and ultimately at Sheik Khalifa and Al Nour Hospitals in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he concluded a career marked by excellence, dedication, and service.

Before medicine, Jan served in the South African Navy as a radar plotter, a role he fulfilled despite being famously seasick.

He cared deeply about community, demonstrated through the work he and Pat undertook starting the Community Chest in Empangeni, the rate payer’s association that fought a very successful election, and an NGO to help the community with small scale sustainable gardening to feed malnourished children admitted to hospital. He was also a fierce believer in education, moving to the middle east ensured all three of his children were able to receive international educations.

Jan and Pat were avid travellers, having visited all four corners of the globe, and instilling the same passion for travel in his children.

Jan was a man of faith, an avid storyteller with a fantastic sense of humour, loved a good book, a wicked chess player, and someone who loved camping, a good braai, and a cold Castle Lager. His warmth, intelligence, and ability to make people laugh will be remembered by all who knew him.

He is survived by his children Karen du Plessis, Jane Sanchez, and Jean du Plessis; his grandchildren Jannie, Jeremie, Fin, and Aiden; and his brothers Sarel and Harms.

He was predeceased by his wife Patricia (Pat) du Plessis, his sister Magdalena (Ena) Erasmus, and his brothers Johannes Hendrik (Boet) and Cilliers du Plessis, and grandson Emmett Sanchez.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Road, Saint John, NB (506-646-2424).  A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 26th at 10:00 AM at Saint John First Wesleyan Church, 399 Boars Head Rd, Saint John, NB.  For those that wish and in appreciation for all the amazing care the doctors and staff of Bobby's Hospice gave Johannes, memorial donations to Bobby's Hospice would be greatly appreciated.

As the Zulu say, hamba kahle, go well, till we see each other again.