Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, surrounded by loving family members, Janet’s long and courageous battle came to a peaceful end as she returned to the Lord, Sunday May 5, 2019. Loving sister of Kathleen (Don) Steffen; beloved aunt of Tom Steffen, Laura (Gene) Bentrup, Mark (Anna) Steffen, Katie (John) Van Cleave; cherished great-aunt of Max, Molly and Maddie Bentrup, Abby, Noah and Lily Steffen, Jack, Amelia, Caroline and Peter VanCleave; treasured Godmother of Paul Brencick; our dearest cousin and friend to many.
A longtime resident of Louisville, KY and active member of Epiphany Church, Jan enriched the lives of friends and strangers through her selfless service to others.
Throughout her life, Jan devoted her time to reaching out and helping others in need, and in so doing forged many deep, long lasting friendships with others similarly inclined. Habitat for Humanity, Hand in Hand Ministries, and Friendship Force all benefited from Jan’s generous gift of her time and talent. Professionally Jan similarly worked to help those in need and those forgotten through her career with the Veterans Administration.
Jan remained close to friends and family throughout her life; often joining in summer family vacations and always there to proudly celebrate important milestones with us. An avid sports fan, watching a game with Jan was an experience, as she would often nervously pace and leave the room during pivotal moments in the game.
Jan was a life-long learner, with degrees from St. Louis University, University of Louisville, and University of Kentucky. Her learning extended beyond the classroom; as a world traveler, she was always striving to more fully understand the world and people around her, connect with old and new friends and discover new ways to help those in need.
When faced with an unexpected and dire cancer diagnosis 24 years ago, Jan refused to ask why or feel sorry for herself but with a resolute spirit bravely began the fight inspiring those around her, and providing hope and courage to those fighting similar battles. Only God knows the number of lives she touched through her long courageous fight.
In a reflective moment and in one of her final conversations with several family members present, Jan smiled and confirmed she had a good life and the fight was worth the price. For those fortunate enough to know and love Jan, while we’ll never fully comprehend the price of her long valiant fight, and will miss her terribly, we can be thankful for the extra time we were able to spend with her and can rest assured knowing she has received her reward of eternal life with the Lord.
Services: Memorial visitation at Assumption Catholic Church (4725 Mattis Rd. 63128) on Saturday, May 18 from 9 a.m. until Memorial Mass time at 10 a.m. Inurnment at Assumption Catholic Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Habitat for Humanity appreciated.