Janet Bates

Janet F. Bates, formerly of Evanston died peacefully in her Des Peres, Missouri home on Friday, July 28, 2017, surrounded by family. She was known for her love and devotion to family and friends, her sense of humor, her extraordinary standards for an immaculate "blue and white" home and meticulous garden, her award-winning typing skills, as a Lutheran who converted to Catholicism (the toughest of all Catholics!), and a passionate lover of all things Swedish, British Royal Family, and Williamsburg-related. While she always carried herself with incredible grace and dignity, she had little tolerance for phonies, weeds, whiskers and dust. She leaves behind her Prince Charming and the love of her life husband, Mark; her three children, Mike (Susan), Scott, and Anne (Marc Glassow). She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Tom Bates (Hannah), Betsy (Chris Stevens), Andy Bates (Hanna), Emily Bates, Laura Bates, Camryn Bates, Marcus Glassow (Adena), Kelsey (Grady Garrison), and Brittany as well as four great-grandchildren: Michael Bates-McGowan; Daisy and Blake Glassow; Adeline Garrison. She will be dearly missed by all. Janet was preceded in death by her parents, Sven and Alice (Pearson) Fjellberg. Janet was born and grew up in Evanston, Illinois. She attended Evanston Township High School. She met her future husband Mark in 1954 at the State National Bank in downtown Evanston. She was a member of the typing pool and Mark had a college summer job operating the elevator. She sat facing the elevator and every time he would pass going up or down, he would stare crossed-eyed at her through the elevator door. Who could resist that? They were married on January 5, 1957. Mike, Scott, and Anne followed in October 1957, February 1961, and June 1964 respectively. Janet and Mark lived in Evanston and were staunch, loyal members of St. Athanasius parish until 1985 when they moved to St. Louis for Mark's career. In Evanston, Janet worked for the John Evans Club at Northwestern University. Upon the move to St. Louis, Janet worked for Washington University in St. Louis in the department of athletics. Let's just say at each institution, she "kept the trains running on time" and made her bosses look brilliant. Services in St. Louis were held on August 1, 2017. A memorial service and celebration of Janet's rich, full life will be held in Evanston later in 2017. Interment at Ridgewood Cemetery in Des Plaines, IL. The Bates family asks that memorial donations be directed to St. Athanasius School, 2510 Ashland Avenue, Evanston, IL. 60201