Janice "Jan" Griswold Jeffries

Jan is survived by her three children and their spouses – Peter Jeffries (Dee), Mark Jeffries (Anne), and Lisa Jeffries Lutz (Jeff) – as well as six grandchildren: Carol Jeffries (Kat), Carla Jeffries Miller (Mike), Damon Jeffries (Chelsea), Corinne Jeffries Waldrop (Kevin), Joshua Lutz (Alana), and Liam Jeffries. She was blessed with nine great-grandchildren: Victoria, Blair, Mackenzie, Grant, Duncan, Hawthorne, Arlo, Wren, and Daisy.

Jan was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 44 years, Norman Thomas Jeffries, Jr. (1931–2000); her granddaughter, Kristina Osheva Lutz (1994–2016); and her siblings, Bob Griswold, Marieta Wendler, and Dick Griswold.

Born on April 14, 1932, in Greenfield, Massachusetts, Jan was the daughter of Harold Deane Griswold and Evelyn Oates Griswold Kitchen. She grew up primarily in Walpole, Massachusetts, and attended the University of Maine, graduating in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in French.

After college, she worked for Ginn and Company in Boston, where she met her future husband, Norm, and they married in 1956. The couple moved to Virginia and welcomed their first child in 1958. While devoted to raising her children, Jan also ran a catering business with her close friend, Mary Sweeney, taught gourmet cooking classes, drove the bus for Pixieland Pinecrest School, and served as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader.

Later, she returned to school, earning her Master’s in Library Science from Catholic University in 1978 while also working in the library at George Mason University. That same year, she became a reference librarian at Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale Campus, where she served until her retirement in 1997.

Jan’s vibrant spirit was a gift to all who knew her. She was lively, friendly, and endlessly curious, with a natural gift for conversation. She made people feel at ease, often drawing out their stories with genuine interest. Her quick wit, warmth, and creativity shone through in every aspect of her life. An avid and talented crafter, Jan poured her creativity into sewing, needlework, and countless other projects. Friends and family were often the lucky recipients of her beautiful handmade creations, each one a reflection of her care, skill, and generosity.

She was deeply engaged in her community – packing food for those in need at Food for Others, delivering meals through Meals on Wheels, and participating in Neighborhood Watch in Kings Park, where she lived for over 55 years and formed lifelong friendships. She enjoyed the camaraderie of a Needler’s Group, traveled widely, and maintained close ties with friends and family throughout her life.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Demaine Funeral Home, 10565 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030, followed by a Celebration of Life at La Dolce Vita, 10824 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Donations in her memory can be made to Reading is Fundamental or a charity of your choice.