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1940 - 2019

BORN

1940

DIED

2019

JANICE BURNS Obituary

JANICE BETH JAEGER BURNS (Age 79)
Public health advocate, Peace Corps volunteer and globetrotting adventurer. Janice Burns passed away peacefully on September 22, 2019 in Boynton Beach, FL. She was preceded in death by her father Edward and mother Mildred of Blairstown, NJ, sisters Andrea and Karen. She leaves behind four children, Thaddeus of Geneva, Switzerland and husband Ennio LoConte; Eric of Safety Harbor FL and wife Michele; Tayah of Ottawa, Canada and fiancé Marc; Alix of Washington, DC; and six grandchildren, Anthony, Katya, Natasha, Gareth, Jeffrey and Aidan.Born July 11, 1940 in Leonia, NJ, Janice was known to light up a room from an early age with her smile, laugh, fashion sense and a curiosity about the world that would define her global path. A graduate of St. Jospeh College "62 and Boston University School of Nursing "66, she was among the first Peace Corps volunteers assigned to Malaysia in 1962. Janice deepened her committment to public health with positions at the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, Project Hope and the Aga Khan University, living and working in a number of countries including Pakistan, Columbia, Ethiopia and Venezuela. The family will hold an open house in Washington, DC on November 16, 2019. Her name will be read at Mass at Holy Trinity in Georgetown, November 16 and 17.

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Published by The Washington Post on Oct. 8, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for JANICE BURNS

Sponsored by anonymous.

38 Entries

Ireneoneill

July 20, 2025

I will always miss her
God Bless her family

I oneill

July 19, 2025

Wonderful, beautiful friend. She will be missed .
God Bless

Irene oneill

July 19, 2025

Wonderful friend since kindergarten
Beautiful and smart

irene SarichOneill

July 17, 2025

A good friend in high school and college.
I miss her

Robbie Gupta

October 2, 2024

Thanks for fond memories you´ve added to my memory bank! Love you!

Robbie E. Gupta

October 2, 2023

Thanks for your kindness while among us on earth. Your lovely daughter still lights up our lives. Such a devoted friend to my daughter Vimla. Continue to rest in peace.

Dona Boyce-Manoukian

December 1, 2019

This is a late entry but I would like to share my remembrance of Janice.
We met in July 1962 when we began Peace Corp training together in preparation for going to Malaya (now Malaysia). It was a heady time and we were an enthusiastic group of people. I also kept up contact --often times loosely--as we both lived in the Washington, DC metro area. After she moved away we exchanged Christmas greetings and kept up annually that route. I remember Janice as a fun, talented and engaging person. She was the perfect hostess and knew how to entertain in style. I will recall her hearty laugh.
Many thanks to Alix and her siblings for a beautiful reception held in her home after the Mass on November 16.

November 16, 2019

Janice made everyone who met her feel better for having known her! my husband and I met her in Pakistan in the 1960's and continued to meet her from time to time over a period of 30+years! I deeply regret her passing - too soon for someone who gave so much of herself during her life! she will be sorely missed!
My condolences to her family whose memories of her will hopefully help to "fill the gap" that will no doubt follow such a full life led by Janice!
Very best wishes and memories,
Julie Burfield

Bill & Mathilde Bellmer

November 8, 2019

Since our first meeting at St. Joseph college, our friendship grew and deepened through the next 61 years. Her generosity knew no bound. She opened her heart and home to us, to accommodate us during our frequent visits to Georgetown University where our daughter had matriculated. Her love was shared with our whole family, and she always felt very much "at home" with everyone of us. However, to her, the most important part of her life was her children: Alix, Thad, Eric and Taya, were part of every conversation and every thought. We miss her and pray that God is blessing her with Love and Peace for ever.

Lovely Janice

Bettie Addleton

November 5, 2019

We met Janice soon after her arrival in Karachi, Pakistan. My husband was pastor of ICK, International Church Karachi. ICK was not only international but also inter-denominational and attracted a diverse group of worshippers. Always smiling, warm and friendly, Janice quickly made friends. She was a charming hostess and invited us and others to her lovely home. A woman of style and artistic gifts, I was told she was responsible for the beautiful necklace, earrings and bracelet presented to me upon our retirement from ICK and Pakistan. I think of Janice each time I wear it. Janice remained in Karachi after our departure and we kept in touch, exchanging emails and holiday greetings until her illness and death. We cherish our memories of Janice with love and appreciation.

Irfan Husain

November 5, 2019

Janice was a wonderful friend during her years in Pakistan. May she rest in peace.

Grier Graham

November 4, 2019

I fondly remember working my way up 29th Street to get to the Burns house at the top of the street just behind Maret. For a kid brought up on Swanson TV dinners and Dinty Moore Beef Stew, it was always a major win when Janice invited me to stay for dinner and eat one of her exotic meals. Her cooking introduced me to an amazing array of spices, beyond salt and pepper. Janice always welcomed us into her house and the sights, sounds and smells opened up a wonderful world of global culture to me for which I will always be grateful.

November 3, 2019

Bob and Elizabeth Bennett

November 2, 2019

We have wonderful memories of Janice and pay tribute to her rich and active life contributing so much to others and her family. It is many years since we saw her, but she has always maintained contact and we have especially enjoyed annual exchanges over the Christmas period. We originally met Janice through the Hufbauers when Bob spent 2 months as a visitor in Washington at Brookings in 1978. Bob was able to get back to Brookings or the Urban Institute a number of times into the mid-1980s up to about 1992 and this is when Elizabeth also met Janice. Janice generously offered accommodation in Cathedral Ave. on some of those visits, and we had some good occasions together. On our Washington visits Janice and the rest of the family was always very generous and outgoing, and that was very much appreciated by us both.

Janice visited us several times in the UK; probably the first time was in 1983 for which this photograph records the sunny days she had with us in Barton, just outside Cambridge (UK). This was almost a year after our first son Phillip was born, who appears in the picture. We remember she enjoyed being taken to punt on the river, but after some interest in wielding the pole wisely decided to leave it to us. She also enjoyed the various other attractions of Cambridge, and we had a good walk along the river. She later visited on two or three occasions when we moved to London in 1985, probably in the later 1980s and early 1990s, usually when she was in the UK for meetings, or on her way to/from Pakistan for which she retained continued warmth from her early time there. These led to some great occasions in the London theatre. One visit was memorable for her difficulties of navigating the local suburban train system that took her along the wrong branch, but was recovered without too much disarray.

It was wonderful to see Janice on these visits to the UK, and when we in the US. She was always such a warm and lively person, always up to any plan, and full of new ideas; and very lively as a host in Cathedral Ave. I am sure everyone will miss her greatly and the memorial service will be a rewarding opportunity to celebrate a very rich and varied life.
We deeply regret not being able to attend the service, which we are sure will be an opportunity for everyone to share warm memories, such as we have of our times with Janice.

My memento from Janice. Always with me,

michael Forster

October 29, 2019

I met Janice in Karachi Pakistan many years ago and she was the sweetest happy lady you could met. Full of life and I respected her and the work she did to helping others. Deeply saddened to hear. RIP. Michael from U.K.

Andrea Ahmed

October 17, 2019

Janice enriched my life with her personality and enthusiasm. She could light up a room with her presence. She was a strong and remarkable woman with many interests and friends around the world. May the goodness in her life continue to inspire us. I will miss her.

Sister Beaudoin

October 17, 2019

Janice was my classmate at St. Joseph College. She was always the sparkling life of the dorm and we all loved her upbeat approach to life. She did much good during her life and certainly lived the charism of the Daughters of Charity who taught her there. Serving the poor and those most in need was exemplified in her life.

Abigail (Gail or Abby) Love (Hausmann)

October 14, 2019

My condolences to the family of a beautiful lady. I grew up in Leonia and went to St John's then Holy Angels then St Joe's with Janice. She had an amazing life and surely impacted many lives. I am proud to have known her and I'm sure she is spreading joy in her permanent home! Xoxxoo's

Dianne Brooks

October 14, 2019

Although Janice and I both began the nursing classes at St. Joseph College in September, 1958, Janice had the endurance and heart to go the distance in that rigorous program. She was an inspiration in so many ways, and many of my college memories are filled with her vivacious personality, her big beautiful smile, and her deeply held determination to serve. She encouraged me and others to read Dr. Tom Dooley''s books about his medical ministry in Viet Nam, during a time when most of us had never heard of Viet Nam.
When the college conducted a week long seminar on etiquette for young ladies," Janice was the student chosen by Miss Anne to demonstrate the poise, manners, and grace which we needed to learn, because she already possessed these virtues.
The last time I saw your mom was when a small group of us popped in for a visit in DC, Her beauty and the gracious hosting of our expected visit is still a fond memory. May the love and light your mom added to this world help you through the loss of her sparkle.

Nimmi Banerjee

October 10, 2019

Deeply saddened by the passing away of a friend of 50 years, but relieved that she went peacefully without suffering.
We remember her fondly for her joy of life. She was always fun to be around and could throw a party like no one else with great food, fun, music, candles, flowers and books.
We are sure that she is lighting up the heavens with her own unique style.
Our deepest love to her children -- Thaddeus, Eric, Tayah and Alix.

Riet Engelen

October 9, 2019

My husband and I met Janice in Lahore, Pakistan in 1968. I will always remember her as the kind, hospitable friend. Janice visited us several times in the Netherlands. Over the years we were always in touch. I send my love to Thaddeus, Eric, Thaya and Alix.

Susan & Todd Lafferty

October 8, 2019

Janice was a beloved part of our international church in Karachi during the 90s when she was working at the Aga Khan University Hospital. We have delightful memories of conversations with her about faith and following Christ.

Gary Hufbauer

October 8, 2019

Janice was the most glamorous foreign wife during our shared years in Lahore, Pakistan, during the late 1960s. Her presence would brighten spirits in those days and her memory does that today.

Dan Johnson

October 8, 2019

Alix --- sorry for your loss and how tremendous and remarkable to have such memories of a beautiful woman.

Penny Maitner

October 8, 2019

We had many long conversations during which she shared her many interests and past experiences and exploits. There was never a book she didn't love. She will be missed.

Marjorie Ransom

October 8, 2019

I met Janice when we were mothers of John Eaton students. She was always ready to host a party and volunteer to help. She was a passionate mother as shows in the photos. May she rest in peace.

Robbie Gupta

October 8, 2019

Thanks for sharing your warmth and kindness with the Gupta family.