Dzhanna Leonidovna Reshetova

Dzhanna was born on January 22, 1934, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in hydrogeology from the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek, and worked for decades at The Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology in Tashkent, where she advised doctoral candidates in the preparation and defense of their dissertations. Throughout her career, Dzhanna always had great respect for academic pursuits and professionalism.

In 1959, Dzhanna married Gelyi (Gelya) Reshetov in Tashkent. Dzhanna always described her husband as “the charming, witty life of any party.” Funnily enough, as Dzhanna told the story, Gelya asked for her hand in marriage many times, at all times of day and in varying degrees of sobriety, until one day he simply had enough! Gelya decided when he asked one more time, they would get married right then and there. Dzhanna relented and sure enough, they were married. Dzhanna and Gelya had two beautiful daughters, Galina and Victoria. The family was together until Gelya suddenly passed away in 1970. Dzhanna was widowed at only 36 years old and never remarried. She raised her daughters the best she could as a single mother.

Dzhanna was very close to her younger sister, Natalya (Natasha) Veytsman (1942-2011). After Gelya’s sudden passing, Natasha became Dzhanna’s main source of strength and emotional support. Though the young family faced challenges, Natasha and her husband, Leo Veytsman, generously supported Dzhanna and her girls in every way they could.

The course of her life shifted drastically again in 1989, when Dzhanna first visited the United States. After her visit with Natasha and her family, who had recently immigrated to Dallas, Dzhanna was determined to reunite with her sister and start a new life. She dreamed of being with her sister again and their families thriving together in America. Dzhanna saw a new life of travel, shopping and going to concerts with Natasha. All those dreams later became reality, and as she always said, “it was possible only in America.”

Together with her daughter Victoria, son-in-law Michael Pashin and granddaughter Julia, Dzhanna immigrated to Dallas in 1992. Shortly thereafter, her grandson Steven was born to Michael and Victoria. The small family grew a little bigger when Dzhanna’s daughter Galina, son-in-law Yuri Paltsev and grandson Max joined the rest of the family and immigrated to Dallas in 1997. The entire family is forever grateful to Dzhanna for her courage in leaving behind a familiar life in pursuit of a better one, and to her key supporters, Natasha, Leo and the Veytsman family, who welcomed them with open arms and guided them through what was then completely unfamiliar territory.

Dzhanna will be most remembered for the way she loved her family, her kind smile, her warm hospitality, and her signature cooking and baking. She knew how to marvel at beauty – from her own manicured hands to the crystal stemware she kept neatly on display to uplifting big band jazz, salsa, and Italian popular music.

She is survived by her brother-in-law (Leo Veytsman), two daughters (Galina Reshetova and Victoria Pashin) and sons-in-law (Yuri Paltsev and Michael Pashin), three grandchildren (Max Paltsev, Julia Pashin and Steven Pashin), two great grandchildren (Ivana Paltsev, 17, and Ivette Paltsev, 14), two nephews (Gary Veytsman and Arthur Veytsman) and their families.

Dzhanna will be missed and remembered with love.

Visitation will be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home (7405 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75225) on January 2, 2026 at 10 AM. Graveside service will be held at approximately 12:15 PM.

Reception will be held at Bubala Cafe & Grill (17479 Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75252) following the service.