Janice Clare Bezanson

Bezanson, Janice "Jan" (Johnston), (83) passed away, peacefully on Sunday September 20, 2015, in the home of her eldest daughter, Lauren Pochelon and husband Kirk, in Wakefield, NH, where she was lovingly cared for during the past five years. She was born on June 11, 1932 in St. Johnsbury, VT, the second daughter of Herbert and Marion (Blandin) Johnston. Jan graduated from Somerville (MA) High School in 1950 and married her high school sweetheart, "Buzz", in 1954. Together they raised four outstanding daughters; Lauren, Patti Fielding (Dave), Nancy (Lance Packard) and Sally Mann, who blessed them with eleven grandchildren; Heidi Trapasso Dias (Josh), Nina, Rachelle and Philip Trapasso, Braden Perkins, Jodi Bezanson, Jenny and William Packard, Hannah-Rose Mann, and Christopher and Grace Hoefs and three great-grandchildren, Lola, Dominic and Santino Dias. She also claims Sanami Takahashi from Japan, as her exchange student daughter. Jan and Buzz lived in Somerville, MA, Washington DC, Lynn MA, Andover MA, Covington LA, Buffalo NY, Boston MA, and Meredith NH. Since 1967, they have maintained a family vacation home, B's Hive, on Little Bear Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. They also spent many winters in South West Florida. Jan devoted her life to her family and community as an active church member and Girl Scout leader. Her goal in life was to be a good wife, a good mother and grandmother, and a good neighbor, all of which she accomplished with distinction. At 42 years of age, she decided she wanted a college education. In 1984, at age 52, she graduated from the University of Buffalo (SUNY) earning a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. For the next 16 years, she was active in several artists' guilds and organizations. She became a suicide prevention counselor with the Samaritans, Secretary for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and a member of the Massachusetts Foster Care Review Board. Jan (and Buzz) enjoyed traveling, music, fine dining and they were avid fishermen. In addition to her immediate family she leaves behind a sister, Muriel Scott, three nieces and two nephews; Barbara Smith (Ed), Susan Campbell, Carol Ashe (Dave), David Scott (Sherri) and Robert Scott and their families in Englewood, FL and Billerica, MA.

Tributes

Janice Clare Bezanson

June 11, 1932 - September 20, 2015