Janet L. Braga

On August 9, 1933, Frank & Freeda Warrington were blessed with the birth of their one and only child Janet Lee. She was born during the depression in Saginaw, Michigan. In 1941, her family moved to Port Austin, MI on Lake Huron. Janet asked Jesus into her heart at age 14 and was baptized in water in 1947. She was very active in the United Protestant Church of Port Austin. Mom had such a beautiful singing voice that she was invited to sing in the Catholic Church. On Sundays, she would attend and sing at the local Protestant Church, then run down the street and sing solos at the Catholic Church even though she wasn’t Catholic.

Her parents ran a restaurant during World War II and Jan helped out everyday after school. One day when a gentleman came in and asked her for a black coffee she said, “I’m sorry sir, but we only have brown coffee.” Ironically, she later acquired a taste for straight black coffee. On payday she would be found sitting on the steps of the town bank waiting to deposit her money when they opened.

Her parents worked hard for everything. Janet learned that same work ethic. They saved up to send her to college. She graduated from Michigan State Normal College with a B.S in teaching. Ever since she was a young child she wanted to be a schoolteacher.

On June 19, 1954, during her junior year in college, she married John (Johnny) Blackford. They met while he was stationed at the Air Force Base in Port Austin, MI. During her senior year he was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. After graduation she joined him there. Janet began her first teaching assignment on base. While living in Anchorage she gave birth to their first child Debbie Lynn in 1956. Eighteen months later she gave birth to her only son Timothy John after moving to South Bend, Indiana where her husband Johnny's family lived.

In 1962, the family moved to San Diego, CA. Her parents followed. There she continued her teaching career. In 1966, she gave birth to her third and final child Tammy Ann. Janet became a stay at home mom until 1968.

In 1970, she and Johnny were divorced. On March 30, 1972 she married Richard Braga. They were married for 35 years. She acquired 3 more grown children; Richard Jr., Mary Elaine, and Bridgette. She loved them as if they were her own. She was especially close to Bridgette and they shared a special relationship.

She and Richard “Dick” enjoyed bowling together. He won a lot of blue chip stamps that she loved to spend! They also enjoyed their morning newspaper and coffee in bed, going to the waterfront and watching the boats. Sunday afternoons were spent going visiting. Dick always called mom “his Janny” and he loved her very much. He passed away in November 2005, due to Renal (kidney) Failure.

In 1990, Jan and Dick bought a Lawrence Welk's Timeshare to spend precious time with both sides of their families. Their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids looked forward every summer to going to Welks. They all loved listening to Grammie Jan read them a story or recite “Five Little Monkey’s Jumping on the Bed,” and other songs and poems.

Janet taught kindergarten in the Santee School district for 34 years. She adored her little students. Singing, reading stories and playing the piano made her even more special to them. She retired in 2000, but continued subbing and playing the piano for their Christmas programs, etc. After she really retired she enjoyed traveling. She actually got Dick on an airplane to travel to Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to visit friends and family. After he passed away, she became very active outside the home. During Spring Break in 2006, she went on a cruise to Acapulco with Dick's children and grandchildren. Her daughter Debbie accompanied her, since her beloved husband had died before the trip. In June 2006, Jan and Debbie went on a cruise of Alaska and enjoyed visiting Dick’s family in Anchorage and taking Debbie to see where she was born. In July 2008, Jan went to Kauai with her daughter's Debbie and Tammy. This was a dream of a lifetime for her. One hilarious memory of the trip was mom coming in our room very early one morning and walking like a rooster and saying, "Cock-a-doodle-do," as we wanted more sleep. The roasters would start crowing on the tropical island at 4am.

This last summer in July 2011, Janet went to her 60th High School Reunion in Port Austin, Michigan. She was so thrilled to see her classmates after all these years and had a wonderful time visiting with all of them. While in Michigan, Janet with her daughter Debbie visited relatives and had a very special bonding time together. We even went to Amish Acres in Indiana, and enjoyed the sites and our time together.

Janet stayed very active right up to the end. She worked out at Curves three times a week. She also sang in the CTA Retired Teacher Choir and was leaving to go to a practice when she fell down the stairs on November 10, 2011. She also had been a member of the same Bunco group for over 40 years. It was started in our neighborhood in 1971. She also took organ and computer classes. She was an active member of the Alpine Squares square dancing group. She and her son Tim were there faithfully every Friday night. She held the office of secretary.

Mom was very active in her church that she loved, Skyline Church. She joined the senior’s home group. She enjoyed studying the Bible and memorizing scripture. She took very detailed sermon notes every Sunday. She led worship for the nursing home ministry.

She deeply loved her family. Her daughter Debbie blessed her with 2 granddaughters, Shanell 1977, and Tiffany 1979. Shanell and Simon have three children Kyle 10, Abbey 5 and Kaitlyn 2. Tiffany and Mark have 2 children Zachary 9 and Sierra 7. Jan was also very close to her step-granddaughter Maile, born in 1989. She was also blessed with 13 step grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 23 great-great grandchildren as well.

Her legacy will live on in the hearts of many. We don’t know how many lives she touched through her teaching and simple kindness. She had a big heart and saw the best in everyone. She was a beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, coworker and friend.

Janet’s colon burst on November 17th, and she died from septic shock on December 13, 2011. We will miss her greatly, but know that she is in heaven with our Lord and Savior and we will see her again someday. We love you MOM!