Jana Elizabeth Robinson

Jana was born to Gerald Bowser and Elizabeth Bednar, in St. Petersburg, Florida, on June 3, 1949. She graduated from Saint Paul’s High School in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1967 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the Sacred Heart Dominican College in Houston, Texas in 1972. She married her beloved Laron Dale Robinson in 1973, and they resided and raised two children in Bellaire, Texas.

Jana was kind and resilient. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, a compassionate, diligent teacher, and a steadfast friend. She is survived by her son Andrew Robinson (Autumn Clack), daughter Lauren Robinson (Samuel Rogers), granddaughter Evelyn Rogers, siblings, and her many nieces, nephews, and former students.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, Orphia Robinson (mother-in-law), Herbert Andrew Robinson Jr. (father-in-law), Anna Robinson, Billie Day, Mattie Crockett, and Cathy Lorino.

Jana was always there for people—as a wife and mother, in her work as a special education teacher for Pasadena Independent School District, and later as an ESL teacher and reading educator at College of the Mainland. She trained at Neuhaus Education Center and worked for many years a as Dyslexia Specialist, tutoring students one-on-one for academic success.

Jana had a rare way of making people feel seen, valued, and safe.

As an educator, she was a master of technique, but her ability to find a special way to connect with each unique child made her an extraordinary teacher and led to lasting relationships and sometimes even lifelong friendships.

As a wife and mother, Jana was an encourager and quick to remind her loved ones of their strengths and potential. She expressed her love and generosity every day in countless ways, from encouraging her family’s passions and interests to lighting a fire when motivation and their goals mattered more than comfort. She filled their lives with happiness through her humor and love of silliness, novelty, and sharing of new experiences.

As a friend, she was loving and warm and treasured many long and dear friendships. Jana loved swapping books, a strong cup of coffee with a long chat, scouting for the best sales and deals, and playing cards. She would make food, quietly listen, and offer words of wise, steady advice when it mattered most.

Jana was so much fun! She loved waking her kids up with silly puppets and songs. She loved taking her kids and grandchild out at night on the beach with a flashlight, searching for sand crabs to catch and release. Jana loved gardening, traveling to new places, and learning. She often attended continuing education classes and lectures and read voraciously – combing two newspapers a day and clipping and amassing an archive of articles and references that she loved sharing with her friends and children.

Everyone is welcome to attend on January 16th the visitation at 11 am, Catholic funeral service at 12 pm, burial at 1 pm, and reception at 2pm – all at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. Deacon Allan Frederiksen will officiate the ceremony. If desired, donations in Jana’s memory may be made to any of several organizations dear to Jana’s heart, including: M.D. Anderson, Houston Aphasia Recovery Center, Nature Discovery Center (Bellaire), Seaside Seabird Sanctuary (Florida), PugHearts of Houston, and the Project on Government Oversight.