Janet Marie Willard

Janet Marie Willard was born in September of 1952, to Curtis and Violet. She received her Registered Nursing degree in 1972 and pursued a career in nursing until her retirement in 2006. She raised two children, Ivan and Sarah, primarily as a single parent. She passed away of Carcinoid Cancer in the loving home of her daughter on July 29, 2019, in Colorado.

 

Janet will be most remembered for her physical and emotional grit, persevering through every hardship with an enviable optimism, choosing hope and faith in Jesus Christ to carry her through. This faith was intermixed with a fascination of the fantastical world of fairies and other magical creatures, which shone through in Janet's fun-loving, youthful personality. Janet's affectionate nature was contagious and unbiased, as witnessed in the loving nature of her children and grandchildren who survive her.

 

Janet had a great love of all animals. She cared for various species throughout her life, from iguanas to parakeets to llamas. She was an avid fisherman, gardener, crocheter, knitter, and road tripper. She loved to take the backroads to explore all that she could. As T.S. Eliot stated, ""The journey, not the destination matters..."" and Janet definitely lived her life with a focus on the journey.

Janet worked tirelessly throughout her career to care for patients in hospitals, clinics, and in their own homes. Janet's career choices led her to Hawaii, Washington and Oregon, bringing her children along with her for the journey. Always planning her next adventure, she put hundreds of thousands of miles on vehicles, seeking and admiring everyday majestic views that many of us would take for granted. She had a life-long partner in Jesus Christ as her travel mate, who kept her company throughout her many adventures.

 

Janet was preceded in death by her father, Curtis. She is survived by her mother Violet; her three siblings – Curtis Jr., Bruce, and Debbie; her two children – Ivan and Sarah and their spouses; her two grandchildren – Jacob and Madelynn; former spouse – Clifford; as well as friend and father of her children – Jack. A private service will be held off the Oregon coast to scatter her ashes in September, 2019, per her wishes.

 

Janet requested that any memorial donations be made to Joyce Meyer Ministries at: https://store.joycemeyer.org/p-354-general-donation.aspx

And/OR to the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation at:

https://carcinoid.kindful.com/