Jan was born to Cal and Audrey Johnson in 1960 and grew up Cadillac, Michigan, earning a B.A. from Northern Michigan University and an M.L.S. from Clarion University.
Jan moved to Maine with her husband Bill in 1987 where they raised three children in Falmouth. She was a lifelong advocate for children’s reading programs and a librarian at Falmouth Elementary School for many years. An active member of First Lutheran Church in Portland, she volunteered as a Sunday School teacher and served on numerous committees.
Despite having Parkinson's for 12 years, Jan never allowed that diagnosis to define her. She enjoyed hiking, bargain hunting, boxing at Rock Steady in Cape Elizabeth, and furthering children’s literacy in any way she could, often anonymously.
Jan is preceded in death by her father P.T. Calvin Johnson, her sister Renee Adamson, and her brother-in-law John Adamson.
She is survived by her devoted husband Bill, with whom she enjoyed 39 years of marriage; her children Zachary, Sam, and Molly, her mother Audrey Johnson, her brothers Craig Johnson of Tustin, Michigan and Jeff Johnson of McBain, Michigan, nephew and niece Sean and Sara Adamson, among many others.
The family invites you to a time of visitation on Thursday December 29th from 4:00 to 7:00pm at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Portland. A Funeral Service will take place on Friday December 30th at 10:00am at First Lutheran Church, 132 Auburn St, Portland.
The Bennett family would like to express their thanks for the wonderful help and care provided by Southern Maine Hospice.
If desired, friends may make a memorial contribution to Reading is Fundamental at rif.org
You may offer your condolences or share your memories at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com
