Janet R. Finney

1933 - 2023

Janet R. Finney was an artist, musician, mother, wife, sister and friend who we were lucky enough to have on earth for 90 remarkable years. On December 15, 2023, she passed away peacefully, with her loving family present, leaving us with broken hearts but so much love and strength that we know will sustain us as we face the days to come.
Janet was born on January 13, 1933, to George and Helen Reilly. She grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, with her sisters Jerry and Jarvis. She played piano from a young age and enjoyed the summers she spent at Camp Farwell in Vermont where she played tennis, sailed and rode horses. Upon graduation from high school she attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School and later began nursing studies in New York City.
In 1954 she married Karl ZoBell. When he joined the U.S. Coast Guard, the couple moved to California, where, between 1955 and 1963, they had five children. The family settled in La Jolla.
In 1969, after divorcing, Janet and her 5 children moved to a cul-de-sac in Del Mar called "Minorca Cove" where we played in the street, watched cats have kittens, dogs fetch balls, and even tortoises sunning themselves in the backyard. We had numerous beach picnics and will never forget (and frankly don't know how she did it) packing up the Country Squire station wagon with wood sides with tents, cots, ukuleles, a Coleman stove, lantern and sleeping bags to spend long weekends in Cuyumaca, Idyllwild or at a state beach.
In 1975 she married Charles David Finney, with whom she enjoyed 48 years of travel, singing, gardening and devoted companionship.
As her children grew up and were more independent, Janet pursued a college degree with a major in fine arts. In 1986, at the age of 53 she skipped her own college commencement ceremony at San Diego State University in order to attend graduation events for her children finishing studies at three other universities…all within a few days of each other.
Janet's art study was the beginning of a passion that she enjoyed for nearly the rest of her life. She was a gifted watercolorist with a particular talent for painting landscapes that evoked the unique beauty of San Diego's natural environment. She also loved painting flowers. She won many prizes for her work and her paintings were shown in several galleries around San Diego. Our family treasures her paintings, especially those of Torrey Pines, and display them proudly in our homes.
Until the last few years, Janet was an avid tennis player with a regular schedule of doubles play. She loved following professional tennis and never missed watching Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. She sponsored her grandchildren for summer tennis camps and inspired the next generation of family athletes.
Several in our family inherited our mother's green thumb. She loved growing trees, flowers and vegetables. She liked to read about plants and kept written records of her gardening projects. Her yard was a friendly, blooming place to eat lunch or just enjoy the sun. Local birds knew they could always count on a good lunch and a splash in the bird bath at Janet's house.
Janet played piano and sang in choirs and choral groups all her life. She was a talented musician and occasionally picked up a new instrument and learned to play it with ease. We remember her singing with her base ukelele and later an accordion. More recently, she took up Celtic harp and played for the residents at a local senior care facility. She appreciated all kinds of music, but her favorite composer was probably J.S. Bach. Her children appreciate the encouragement and support she gave them to learn and play music, a gift that has stayed with us as adults. She loved listening to her son Claude play saxophone in reggae, jazz and swing bands.
As we gather for the holidays, we will cherish a lifetime of memories and celebrate our mother and the legacy and traditions she has generously given us. She always brought the family together and was the life of the party, the guest of honor and the welcoming hostess. She knew how to put together a gathering.

Janet was predeceased by her sister Josephine, "Jerrie", and is survived by her sister Jarvis Nolan. She leaves behind her husband, Charles David Finney, and his children, her step-children, Bruce and Helene Finney and her children Bonnie ZoBell, Betsy ZoBell, Karen ZoBell, Claude ZoBell, Mary ZoBell and grandchildren Iris, Isabel, Karl, Zoey, Vanessa, Michelle, Marilyn, Justin, Lily and Jack, and two great grandchildren.

We will pay loving tribute to Janet every time we see an ocean sunset, an excellent tennis backhand, or a floral garden.