Jan Gillman Quackenbush

Jan Gillman Quackenbush, 91

January 16, 1933 - June 22, 2024

Jan Gillman Quackenbush passed away peacefully on June 22, 2024, at Northside Hospital Forsyth in Cumming, Georgia, surrounded by her loving family.

Jan was born in Buffalo, New York on January 16, 1933, as Jan Carol Beard to Gladys and Charles Beard (Gladys Jean Seibert & Charles Walter Beard), who were blessed with two daughters, Jan and her sister Nancy. They were raised in the Buffalo area where Jan graduated from Amherst High School and later with a degree in Nursing from the University of Buffalo. She married Raymond Edward Gillman in 1953 and they had three wonderful children. After moving to Kinnelon, and later Rumson, New Jersey, where the children all grew to adulthood, Jan received a degree from Caldwell College in Design and worked in New York City as an interior designer for W. and J. Sloane.

After the death of Raymond, her loving husband of 38 years, Jan returned to her nursing career working as an RN and eventually remarried Charles Irwin "Chuck" Quackenbush. They moved to Alpharetta, Georgia to be nearer her daughter and grandchildren, where they became members of St. Aidan's Episcopal Church. Chuck preceded Jan in death, passing in 2013. Jan remained a dedicated and beloved parishioner of St Aidan's and was a mainstay in the church's Flower Guild for many years as well as a long-standing member of the Alpharetta Garden Club and Book Club.

Jan truly enjoyed life and had many interests. She was always ready for an engaging conversation about many a topic, being just as comfortable talking about academic subjects like American History or recent scientific discoveries as she was about the latest star players or playoff prospects of the Buffalo Bills. She loved cooking, gardening, reading, traveling, animals, bird watching, antique collecting, swimming, and watching sports of all kinds, especially when it involved her kids or grandkids.

We are so blessed to have had such a kind, passionate, loving woman in our lives. She will have a lasting impact on each of us forever and we will cherish the moments we had with her, our smart, caring, generous mother and helpful, fun-loving friend. May we all love one another and life as much as Jan has in her nine decades on this earth.

Jan was predeceased by her parents, her sister Nancy and husbands Ray and Chuck. She is survived on the Gillman side by her two sons Rick Pearman-Gillman (Kim), Keith Gillman (Tara); daughter Marci Gillman Byrne (Stephen); Eight grandchildren Alexandria Pearman-Gillman, Andrew Gillman, Schuyler Logan-Gillman (Dan), Allison Gillman, McKinley Byrne Sandifer (Robert), Griffin Byrne, Macauley Pearman-Gillman, Cooper Byrne; Great grandchildren Redding and Rhodes Sandifer, and Marloe Raye Logan-Gillman. She is survived on the Quackenbush side by Charles Quackenbush (Jeni), Anne Blanc (Tim), Cindy Panebianco, Kristen Mannello (Joe), Elisa Buckley (Matt), Molly Stokes (Brent); grandchildren Thomas, Emily and William Quackenbush, Christpher Blanc, Sarah and Frank Delaney V, Madelyn, Morgan and Joseph Panebianco, Ethan and Lucas Mannello, Emma and Ryan Buckley.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held August 11, 2024, at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Milton, Georgia. The family suggests memorials be made to Rescue Me Georgia.

Their website is https://www.rmgdogs.org/donations.