Jan Marie Stavinoha

Jan Marie Stavinoha of Katy, Texas passed away on April 24, 2024, after a courageously fought battle with cancer. She was born on August 4, 1968, in Covington, Virigina.
Jan was preceded in death by her father John W. (Jack) Casto (82), brother Brian Christopher Casto (1), father in law, Marcus Stavinoha (59) and mother in law Dolores Stavinoha (86). Jan leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 27 years, Doug Stavinoha, son Will and daughter Dana, her mother Laura Marlene Casto of Oak Island, NC, brother Greg Casto and wife Jakey of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, sister Lisa Malcom and husband Mike of Oak Island, NC, brother in law Mark Stavinoha and wife Terry of Cypress, TX, nephews Mitch Casto and wife Meghan of Sharpsburg, MD and Matt Casto of Montclair, NJ, nieces Kristin Wyatt of Tampa, FL, Megan Stavinoha of Dallas, TX, as well as many cousins, extended family and close friends.
Jan spent most of her life growing up in Arlington, Texas, where she attended grade school and graduated from Arlington Lamar High School in 1986. Jan was outgoing, captain of the drill team and participated in numerous academic clubs. She graduated with honors and received a scholarship to Rice University. After graduating from Rice in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Material Science and a Minor in Spanish, Jan worked for a few small consulting firms focused on air permitting and quickly obtained her Professional Engineer's Liscense in Environmental Engineering. In 2001 Jan was hired by Calpine Corporation and continued to work for them for 22.5 years.
Jan was known for her brilliance, hard work ethic, wit, empathy, and style. Her infectious smile was a lasting impression on everyone who met her. Jan shared her love of reading, healthy lifestyle choices and was known to enjoy a strong hoppy IPA or glass of red wine with friends or family.
Jan and Doug met, fell in love, and were married on July 19, 1997. Her greatest joy centered around being a loving wife and mother to her two children, Will and Dana. Jan loved attending various childhood sporting events, assisting with homework, and effortlessly keeping the family organized. Jan and Doug enjoyed going on vacations, hiking, going out to dinner with friends, carpooling to work together and taking walks throughout the neighborhood. She loved her family, friends and pets and was content with the life that she and Doug had carved out, always focusing on family first. During Jan's last days, her only concern was that she would not be around to help provide for her children and see them grow into the wonderful adults she knows they will become. A sentiment shared by all loving and devoted mothers.
The world is indeed a lesser place with her absence, but her love and memory will continue to live on inside each of the many individuals whom she touched.
We will miss you always and love you eternally, our beautiful, magnificent Jan.
"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." – A.A. Milne
A memorial service will be celebrated Friday, May 31, 2024 at 10:30 AM CST at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jan's honor to the American Cancer Society or the charitable organization of your choice.