Janet Brittain's Obituary
Janet Lucille Brittain, daughter of William Hoff and Marian Baltis Olenhouse, was born January 27, 1935, in Chillicothe, Missouri. She departed this life Tuesday, March 25, 2008, in her home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-three years, one month, and twenty-eight days. On April 20, 1957, she was united in marriage to Jack Nathan Brittain, and to this union three daughters were born. Her parents preceded her in death. Janet is survived by her loving husband of almost fifty-one years, Jack, of the home; three daughters, Jennifer Peters, Jo Ellen Brittain, and Jacquelyn Cruz, and her husband, Al, all of Lebanon, Missouri; five grandchildren, Laura Westerman, and her husband, Troy, Megan Peters, Jenna Eidson, Nathan Cornelison, and Matthew Cornelison, all of Lebanon, Missouri; four great-grandchildren, Anthony, Emily, Andy, and Jessica Westerman, of Lebanon, Missouri; two sisters, Karen Gaddy, and Martha Olenhouse, both of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two nephews, Mark and Alan Gaddy, and their wives and children, all of Colorado Springs, Colorado; an aunt, Marjorie Thistlethwaite, of Chillicothe, Missouri; three cousins, J. B. Thistlethwaite, and his wife, Kay, Karol Colliver, all of Chillicothe, Missouri, and Ilene (Hymer) Kelley, and her husband, Marvin, of Branson, Missouri; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. She was born and raised in Chillicothe, Missouri, and was graduated from Chillicothe High School in the Class of 1953. She then worked for one of the original J. C. Penney Stores until she and Jack were married in 1957. They soon moved to Abilene, Kansas for a few years before making their home in Lebanon, Missouri in 1961. In addition to being a devoted homemaker and loving wife and mother, Janet also worked as a sales clerk for Burley’s Department Store in downtown Lebanon. Throughout the years, she worked in various capacities within the store. Later, she was employed at Pleasant Memories Antiques in Lebanon for a few years. Janet had been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Chillicothe, Missouri. She was a kind and compassionate person who was always helping others. Over the last thirty years Janet and Jack enjoyed restoring the Ralph E. Burley home in Lebanon, as recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Janet loved antiques and found great pleasure in touring antique malls and collecting dishes. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing special recipes for her family and friends. Her family was always most important to her and she especially enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Janet was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 27, 2008, in the Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Lebanon. Burial will be in the Edgewood Cemetery, Chillicothe, Missouri. Visitation will immediately follow the service. Memorials to the Curry Cancer Center may be made through the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri. Return to top
What’s your fondest memory of Janet?
What’s a lesson you learned from Janet?
Share a story where Janet's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Janet you’ll never forget.
How did Janet make you smile?