Obituary of Janice Patricia Buchanan

We are sad to announce the passing of Janice Buchanan.  She passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 14, 2023 at the age of 75.

She was born Janice Patricia Brown on May 15, 1948 in Fullerton, CA to Gertrude and Robert Brown.  She married the love of her life, Michael Buchanan, on January 27, 1968.  They  celebrated 55 years of marriage this year!   As newlyweds they were stationed in the Air Force in Nebraska, Turkey and in Sunnyvale, CA.  They settled in Ventura, then Elk Grove before retiring in Santa Cruz, CA.

Janice had many interests. She was an accomplished soprano performing solos and singing in various ensembles and in the church choir.  She was an oil painter of landscapes, still life and portraits.  Janice began sewing when she was a child and became a talented seamstress even digitizing some of her own embroidery designs. She also loved to make and repair dolls.  An avid genealogist, Janice traced and documented her family history and helped others in the genealogy community.

She will be remembered most for her devotion to her family. Together with Michael, she raised three children and filled their lives and her grandchildren’s with her sense of adventure, imagination, story telling, and love for animals. Road trips were special times when she sang them silly songs her mother used to sing to her.

She had a deep faith in Jesus and looked forward to being reunited with her parents, her grandmother, and other loved ones who preceded her in death. 

Janice is survived by husband Michael; son Ryan Buchanan, wife Hilary and granddaughter Bailey; daughter Laura Buchanan and grandchildren Rosie, Mikayla, Jonathan and Matthew Hawley; daughter Karyn Bridges and husband James; and Grandson Adam Benouar, wife Monet and a great grandchild due in November. She is also survived by her brother David and wife Susan Brown; her sister, Cecilia Jaedicke; and her two miniature dachshunds, Bonnie and Clyde.