Janice May (Sunbury) Hertel Carlson passed away after a brief illness on August 11, 2022. Janice was born on May 3, 1938 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts to Hazel (Gagne) and Edwin Sunbury. As a small child, Janice moved with her family from Massachusetts to San Diego, CA. She was raised mainly in the East County, specifically Lemon Grove and Spring Valley.
Janice is survived by her five children: Becky Hames Leidiger (Ernie), Roger Hertel (Lori), Laree Simmerman (Rod), Larry Hertel (Karen), Mike Hertel (Louise), and stepchildren, Jacqueline Carlson and Jonathan Carlson (Sharon). Janice is also survived by her two siblings: Nancy (Sunbury) Beezley Usrey, and Robert Sunbury (Lou Ella). Her sister, Judith (Sunbury) Vanderzee, passed away in 2007. She is survived by 12 grandchildren, four step grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren; and is also survived by her sister-in-law, Marie Hertel, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Janice graduated from Grossmont High School in 1956 and married Bob Hertel soon after her graduation. Janice and Bob raised their five children together in El Cajon until his death in 1976. Janice made many friends during those years while participating in several groups and activities including church, youth sports, school, Farmers Insurance gatherings, and the Heartland Mothers of Twins Club, where Janice held many elected positions including club president. It was through the Twins Club that Janice maintained many lifetime friendships. And because God knew ahead of time that Janice would become a role model to other mothers of twins, He blessed her with twin granddaughters, and two sets of twins amongst her 18 great-grandchildren. To say that family gatherings were crowded and crazy is an understatement!
In addition to working for Bob as an administrative assistant in his insurance business throughout the 1970’s, she also continued that role with both her son, Roger, and son-in-law Rod, until her retirement. While raising five teenagers alone as a young widow, she met and married Ken Carlson in 1979, who was a father to two young children of his own. Janice always said her family and her heart grew the day she married Ken. She and Ken were married for 30 years until his death in 2009.
After Janice retired, she and Ken enjoyed traveling in their RV, and vacationing with friends on cruises, and other various destinations. They also enjoyed their El Cajon Elks Lodge gatherings. After Ken’s passing, Janice continued to travel visiting family across the country. She and her daughter, Laree, visited Janice’s granddaughter, Elyse, who was studying abroad in London. She even went on a helicopter while on a cruise in Hawaii with her daughter, Becky. She also had a true passion for reading, a legacy that she has passed on to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Besides spending time with her large family, Janice’s faith in Jesus Christ, and her lifetime love and devotion to the Catholic Church, were the most important things in her life. Janice and her sister, Nancy, were part of a weekly home Bible Study from Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Janice was a member for over twenty years, and the group always enjoyed when Janice baked and shared her lemon bars that she made using lemons from her tree. Janice was a member of The Church of St Luke’s for several years, where she and Nancy attended Mass together there almost every Saturday night.
Janice will always be remembered for her deep devotion to her faith and her family; her pride in the accomplishments of her kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; her love for her friends; her sense of humor; her love of travel; and for making the best cherry parfait pie ever! And to be sure, at the first Thanksgiving without their mom, Gramma Jan “GJ”, the family will be enjoying Janice’s famous cherry parfait pie in her honor...even if it’s only just a “tidge”. Her love and legacy will live on in the hearts of everyone who was blessed to know her.
Services:
Saturday, September 24, 2022
The Church of St. Luke
1980 Hillsdale Road, El Cajon CA 92019
Rosary at 10:00 a.m followed by Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m
Reception in the church social hall to immediately follow.
(Please kindly avoid wearing black per Janice’s wishes)
*Burial will be private
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Janice’s name to these two charities:
or
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