Janice O'Brien

On 2/13/25, with mixed feelings, Janice left her many, many friends on this earth to join her Lord, and all the saints she loved so well in heaven. (She is planning many new careers there.)

Janice was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, to Jane and Walter, "Rocky" Rockers, the first of five children. Her indomitable spirit propelled her through a country childhood until, at the age of 14, she entered the convent as a postulant in the Order of Saint Agnes in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. After 13 years as a consecrated nun, during which time she graduated from Marion College and began teaching elementary school, she was so inspired by the speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., she begged to be released from her vows so she could work in poor inner-city neighborhoods in Chicago. She continued to teach elementary school and took a lead in Sunday School activities at her local church. It was there she met her beloved life-mate of 50 years, Jim O'Brien.

At the age of 30, Janice became Jim's wife, and the mother of Daniel, Cary and Tom, his 3 boys, whose mother had died young. In the ensuing years, their family was enlarged with their son, Peter, and four foster children. In their 60s, after the tragic death of Peter and his wife, Jennifer, Janice and Jim raised their three young grandchildren Jason, Guinivere and Kyra.

Aside from her enduring love for her God and her church, Janice worked tirelessly to succor the homeless, the forgotten and those in need of a listening ear or a kind word. With Utah Phillips, Joanne Robinson, Cindy Maple and Don Lee, and, of course, her husband Jim, a vision for shelter and services for Nevada City's homeless was realized in the founding of Hospitality House. More recently, Janice and Jim created Sierra Roots, a non-profit that responds to the everyday needs of the homeless in our community.

Janice's inner life was as busy as her outer life. Having discovered the profound power of conscious dreaming work, she led seminars in the United States, Thailand and Australia for therapists, health care workers and people in business and in the diplomatic corps. She is presently a Lay Associate of the Sisters of Mercy of America, a religious order with a specific devotion to the sick, the lost, and the forgotten in our society.

Janice was predeceased by her husband, Jim O'Brien, her two beloved sons, Cary and Peter, her brother Ronald Rockers and sister Leeanne Rockers Verhaalan. She is survived by her sons Daniel (Catherine) and Tom (Kathryn), 4 grandsons Sean, Kevin, James and Jayson, 3 granddaughters Mary, Guinevere and Kyra, her great-grandsons Killian and Osiris, and a wonderful assortment of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She will be missed by many people!

Janice has touched and changed many lives in her 85 years on this earth and will likely continue to care for those she loves by sending loving blessings (and most likely, advice) to them from the other side of the veil.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Janice at 11:00 am on Friday, 2/21, at Hooper & Weaver Mortuary in Nevada City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Mercy Associates through St. Patrick's Church, Grass Valley.