Janna Lorraine Voorhis Duffy

Janna Lorraine Voorhis Duffy was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, on July 20,1963, the second daughter of James and Jeanette Voorhis. She passed on April 9, 2021, in her home in Hemet, surrounded by her immediate family.

When Janna was three years old, the family moved to Fallbrook, California. Janna graduated from Fallbrook High School in 1981, and received her Bachelor’s degree in music in 1985 from Humboldt State University.

On October 20, 1990, she married Kirby Duffy of Hemet, California. Soon after, she got her teaching credential and then received her Master’s degree in computer science. Kirby and Janna started their family that same year. Janna taught in the Hemet School District until she retired in 2015, early, due to cancer. She truly fought until the end. Janna lived a full life — full of love, happiness, sadness, determination, and humor. She was an incredible mother, wife, daughter, sister, teacher, grandmother, musician, artist, and so much more.

Kirby, her husband, her children, Laura and Kid, and her granddaughter, were with her when she passed. Joy, Jolena, and Janine, Janna’s sisters, spent many hours with her as she neared the end of her amazing life, as did her mother and father. All of her family, husband, children, parents, sisters, nephews and nieces, cousins and mother-in-law, as well as numerous friends recall her wild and (possibly) exaggerated stories that made everyone smile and kept life positive. Humor was very important in Janna’s life.

Janna lived for others only. She lived a life of service. If you needed her, she would put her life on pause to be by your side. She shared her intellect and positivity with hundreds of children as a teacher. She was, and still is, an incredible mother. She gave love unconditionally.

Janna fought until the end. She will be with her family and friends in their hearts and minds forever. Now she is at peace, free from the pain of disease. Just reach out and she will answer in your heart. She is a luminous being.

In lieu of flowers, Janna would like donations to Michelle’s Place in Temecula, California. That organization gave Janna support and assistance during her seven plus years of battling cancer. (www.michellesplace.org)