Janet Mariam Salimi

Whether she was making a birthday cake, caring for a hospice patient, gathering family around the Thanksgiving table, or simply showing up when someone needed her, Janet had a remarkable gift for making people feel loved. On July 5, 2026, after facing cancer with remarkable grace and unwavering faith, she peacefully entered her eternal home, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, generosity, and unconditional love.

Janet was born on July 30, 1960, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Hamad and Anne Aleck. She was the youngest of three children, joining her sister, Jacqueline "Jackie" Aleck, and her brother, Charles "Chuck" Aleck. She grew up in Harrisburg in the home her father built with his own hands, where she enjoyed the simple pleasures of small-town life—playing outside, climbing trees, caring for animals, and making memories that would stay with her forever.

When Janet was young, her father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Rather than allowing the diagnosis to define their family, her parents chose to make the most of every moment, traveling throughout the United States together. Those experiences taught Janet to treasure time with the people she loved and helped shape the compassionate woman she would become.

After graduating from Harrisburg High School in 1978, Janet completed her education as a Medical Technologist. While spending time with friends in Brookings, South Dakota, she met the love of her life, Rahim Salimi. They were married on June 1, 1985, and later moved to Houston, Texas, where they built a beautiful life together and raised their three children: Cassie, Joseph, and Matthew.

Janet spent her life caring for others. She began her healthcare career as a Medical Technologist before later following her calling into nursing. She served at Methodist Hospital before finding her true passion in hospice care. She often stayed with patients and their families long after her shift had ended because she believed no one should have to face goodbye alone. Her compassion, dedication, and extraordinary patient care earned her the prestigious DAISY Award, though those who knew her understood that her greatest reward was simply helping others.

Family was Janet's greatest joy. Becoming "Gamma" was one of the greatest blessings of her life. She treasured every moment with her grandchildren, celebrated birthdays with homemade cakes, filled holidays with cookie decorating, and made every Thanksgiving a celebration of family, laughter, and togetherness. Her table was always full, her home was always welcoming, and there was always room for one more.

One of Janet's greatest acts of love was caring for Rahim throughout his battle with leukemia. After his passing, she slowly rediscovered joy through time with family, friends, and especially her grandchildren. Even during her own illness, she remained more concerned about others than herself. Her faith never wavered, and she often spoke with peace about being reunited with her mother and, ultimately, with Rahim.

Janet was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rahim Salimi; her parents, Hamad and Anne Aleck; and her brother, Charles "Chuck" Aleck.

She is lovingly survived by her daughter, Cassie (Mike); her sons, Joseph (Caitlin) and Matthew (Lesley); her beloved grandchildren, Louis, Cameron, Carter, and Cooper, who knew her simply and lovingly as "Gamma"; her sister, Jacqueline "Jackie" Aleck; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, dear friends, coworkers, former patients, and countless others whose lives were enriched by knowing her.

Janet believed that love was best expressed through simple acts of kindness: showing up, lending a hand, making a birthday cake, pulling up another chair at the table, or sitting beside someone who needed to know they weren't alone. Her legacy lives on in her family, in the traditions she created, and in the countless lives she touched. She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.