Janice C. Grijns

She was predeceased by her husband Leendert (Lane C.) Grijns, and is survived by her four sons: David, Derek, and her twin sons Andrew and Julian.

She is also survived by two grandsons, Dylan and Braeden Grijns, and two granddaughters, Sophie and Ava Grijns. She was the daughter of the late Claire and Enoch J. Donaldson of New Orleans, a city and a culture she adored.

Having won competitively a scholarship to Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, she graduated as valedictorian. She then graduated from H. Sophie Newcomb Women's College of Tulane University first in her class, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Woodrow Wilson Scholar, with honors and distinction in French and was also the recipient of the Italian Government Medal for Excellence in Italian. After marrying Lane Grijns of The Netherlands, who was a maritime lawyer in Rotterdam at that time, she moved to Rotterdam where she was a translator for a multi-national company. After being awarded a five-year faculty fellowship with living stipend with the title of Faculty Fellow, she attended the graduate school of Columbia University, where she completed her MA in one year. She also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and was awarded a diploma there. In addition, she studied at the Universite de Dijon in burgundy, the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, and Laval University in Quebec City. She later completed her PhD. She maintained homes in Greenwich, CT, New Orleans, LA, and London, England.

Janice was a long-time member of the literary club, The Lotos Club in New York City, of the Metropolitan Opera Club in New York, the Stanwich Country Club in Greenwich, CT, and of the Carlton Club of London.

She was known for her intellectual brilliance, her warm exuberance, her wit, and her great beauty. As a teenager in New Orleans, she modeled in the department stores there and also appeared on television morning shows, once winning a modeling contest and having lunch with Johnny Carson. While living in London, she taught several languages at the American High School of London. She wrote for magazines, especially book reviews. In addition to her boundless interests, she also worked 30 years in real estate, eventually specializing in chateaux and other properties in Europe. She endowed and founded the Enoch J. Donaldson Animal Sanctuary in northern Louisiana, in honor of her father. She adored her sons and did everything possible for them. After her sons and her family, her extreme love for animals was a guiding light in her life. She will be remembered for her beauty, her academic achievements, and her warmth and generosity to all.

Please make donations in her honor to the ENOCH J. DONALDSON ANIMAL SANCTUARY, C/O THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF LOUISIANA P O . BOX 740321, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70174, TAX ID 58-1795272

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with a service at 12 noon, at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch St, Greenwich, CT 06830.