ForeverMissed
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Her Life
November 19, 2012

Our thanks go out to all of you who so kindly sent expressions of sympathy.  I wish I could respond to each of you individually.  Your thoughts were, and still are, greatly appreciated.  We all have our memories.  Let each celebrate the life of Janice in their own most meaningful way.

- Zane E. Naibert

November 19, 2012

Janice was born in the midwest on May 15, 1936 as Janice Fear.  She lived in Iowa for only a short time before moving to California, where she lived for several years.  Her mother sent her back to Hopkinton, Iowa to live with her grandparents, the Bacons, shortly after Pearl Harbor because of the fear of attacks on California.

Janice grew up in Hopkinton, and went to school in Monticello.  After graduating high school she moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she worked at an estate office and then later at Collins Radio Company.  It was in Cedar Rapids where she met Zane.  After a stormy few years they were married in August of 1958.

The first year that they were married they lived in Algona, Iowa.  Zane had his first full time teaching job, and Janice was the Secretary to the Superintendant of Schools.  They moved to Iowa City, where Janice worked in the University Hospital while Zane was attending the University of Iowa and teaching in the University schools.  It was during this time that Janice joined an antique study group and began a self-made career in the antiques world.

Janice and Zane move to Cortland, NY in 1960 after Zane got his Ph D. and accepted a position as a professor of Chemistry at the State University of New York.  Janice had a great time roving the countryside in her truck, looking for flea markets, auctions, and estate sales. Upstate New York was a fertile hunting ground for antiques and Janice was a familiar face at the auction halls and antique malls.

In 1968, Janice and Zane moved to Maryland, where Janice's business continued to expand and evolved into the doll world.  This is the Janice that many of you came to know.  This is where she excelled, becoming internationally known and respected.  She especially enjoyed her trips to Paris.  It is truly amazing how many friendships she developed.

It was in Maryland that Janice and Zane became parents.  Their son, Eric was born in 1974.  A daughter, Stacy was born in 1977, but tragically was taken by cancer two years later.  At Janice's request, her ashes are being returned to nature, to follow Stacy's. Janice is survived by her brother Edwin Fear, her son Eric, and her husband Zane.