Janice will be remembered as a beloved presence in the lives of those who knew her, marked by a kind-hearted spirit that was felt most clearly in the ways she cared for others. Her love for cooking and for family gatherings reflected the steady devotion she held for her family and the warmth she brought to time spent together.
Janice is survived by her husband, Ronald Widener; her children, Wenona, Ronna, and Clayton Widener; and her siblings, Gwendolyn Bahyseva, Beatrice Tashquinth, Peggy Escalante, Donna Juan, Sylvia Escalante, Cecil Escalante, Raymond Escalante, and Fred Escalante Jr. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Lenora Smith and Fred Escalante and a brother Ronald Escalante.
Services will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Widener residence in Sells, starting at 6 p.m. Burial will follow on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Escalante Cemetery, Tohono O'odham Nation.
