Janet Elizabeth Johnson's Obituary
Janet Elizabeth (Tracy) Johnson died peacefully surrounded by family on June 23, 2025 at Waterman Village Retirement Community, Mt Dora, FL. Janet was born on September 24, 1945 to Marian (Richards) and John Tracy in Phillipsburg, NJ. She met Jim, her husband of 57 years, while he attended nearby Lehigh University and she pursued her nursing education at Warren County Technical College. His military service took them to Rapid City, SD where they fell in love with the Black Hills, deciding to return as soon as possible after Jim’s discharge. They spent many happy years in Rapid City, immersing themselves in the local community, before moving to Kissimmee to be closer to Janet’s family. They chose Mt Dora and Waterman Village for their retirement years. Janet loved and truly cared about people, devoting her life to helping others. She and Jim were involved in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program, giving lots of teens many happy experiences they never would have had and winning awards for their excellent service. Some grateful former “Littles” continue to keep in touch. Janet and Jim also hosted foreign exchange students who still write from exotic places. As a nurse, Janet was drawn to elderly people, working with them in private duty care, nursing homes and adult daycare. It takes a very special person to not only dance and sing with her patients to get them to smile but to lobby the state legislature on their behalf. Janet later worked as executive director of the local Alzheimer Association where she also led caregiver support groups, even sharing her home phone number with overwhelmed spouses and children. Janet had a deep faith, reading her Bible daily and trusting in God. She and Jim were active and involved members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kissimmee where Jan helped senior parishioners. People felt connected to Janet because she listened and cared about their stories. She kept her friends for life. She noticed and appreciated everyone; she enlisted Jim’s help in taking her famous brownies to the staff for every doctor’s appointment and hotel stay. Janet was very special to so many in her lifetime. Her “smile that could light up a room” and her caring heart will be missed. Janet is survived by her husband, Jim, her sister, Carol (Tracy) Main (Doug), sister-in-law Barbara (Johnson) Birch (Pete), nieces and nephews Dana Chiki Bowers (Adam), Elizabeth Montes, Ildefonso Moran (India), Barry Birch (Lauren), Julie Birch Vineyard (Corey).
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