Janice Leslie Osborn Zajac

From the moment she was born, Janice lived her life out loud and in color. She was not shy, or timid. She was brave and down-to-earth. She wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter. Janice was born on August 26, 1950 in Denver, Colorado. She spent her early years in the San Fernando Valley, but a move to San Jose in 1961 gave her a home. There she met her husband, Rob and built a life together with their daughter, Thea.

Janice graduated from San Jose State University (SJSU) and went on to help found, and later work at, the SJSU Women’s Center– and she was one of four women to receive the first MA in Women’s Studies and SJSU. She began her career supporting women’s programs and workers through vocational rehabilitation and later went on to run computer training programs in the stores she owned with her husband.

She was a devoted community organizer, and she worked to improve her neighborhood through unceasing volunteer work, including (but not limited to): leading her neighborhood association, coordinating neighborhood tree-planting, connecting local businesses with one another, and organizing events in her beloved Naglee Park neighborhood. All of this speaks to her pride at being a good neighbor, and a nurturing member of San Jose’s civic community.

Janice loved to travel - especially by car. Zajac family vacations were spent roadtripping the American West, zigzagging between national parks and winding backroads, classic rock blaring. “Wayfarers on, baby”. She was an expert at finding killer deals on great motels with good pools using her dog-eared guidebooks and well-worn maps.

She was a devoted mother and grandmother. From an early age, she taught Thea the importance of civic engagement and community, large and small. She didn’t sweat the small stuff and tried not to take life too seriously. She always led with an open heart and an empathetic ear. You never wondered where you stood with her.

Her identity as a grandmother brought Janice tremendous joy, and her two grandchildren loved her endlessly. They delighted in the dance parties to class rock tunes, thrift store treasures and family tales that Janice always enthusiastically delivered in spades.

Janice is preceded in death by her parents, Rex and Gerri Osborn and her dear husband Robert Zajac. She is survived by her three siblings: Debra (Sam), Linda (Jan) and Todd (EveAnn) and by her daughter Thea (Mike) and grandchildren Vera (8) and Graham (5).

Janice cared deeply about women’s rights and was proud to be born on the 30th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment– giving women the right to vote. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the League of Women Voters or spend time volunteering in your community.