Emily Jane Scully Hodgkins (Janet), 83
Emily Jane Scully Hodgkins (Janet), 83
Emily Jane Scully Hodgkins (Janet) passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on Jan. 29, 2016, at the North Idaho Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Janet was 83 years old.
Born May 30, 1932, in Mountmellick, Ireland, Janet was the youngest child of Mary Ann Phelan and John Scully. She grew up in Ireland and England, and enjoyed dancing in her younger years. Janet immigrated to the United States in December 1955 where she worked as an executive secretary in New York prior to marrying W. Howard Hodgkins on April 16, 1964. They moved to California that same year and she called California home for 48 years prior to moving to North Idaho in May 2012.
Janet enjoyed serving others. She volunteered for the American Cancer Society during and after her husband’s death from brain cancer in 1970. She also volunteered at the hospital auxiliary at the Regional Medical Center of San Jose. In her later years, Janet served as a Stephens Minister at Christ the King Catholic Church in San Jose. She also liked spending her time in exercise classes at the South Valley YMCA in San Jose, where she enjoyed several friendships. She also participated in walking clubs, such as the South Bay Striders.
As an older student in the 1980s, Janet sought to further her education and received an Associate of Arts degree from San Jose Community College, completed 90 hours of advanced training through the Evergreen Valley College Business Education department, and took several classes at San Jose State University. Janet was a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society. She was a bright student and a gifted writer. Her other passions included writing poetry as well as an amazing gift for crocheting. In recent years, she used this talent to make baby blankets and other items to donate to those in need.
Janet is preceded in death by her husband, her parents and three brothers, Timothy, Patrick and Thomas Scully. She is survived by her older sister, Maura Stollery (England); children Suzanne Marie Danner (Jason) of Coeur d’Alene and Patrick Howard Hodgkins (Kristine) of Gilbert, Ariz.; two stepdaughters, Elizabeth Hodgkins (Richard Hinsz) and Laurie Roberts, both of California. Ten grandchildren: Brandon Cartwright (Heidy) of Spokane, Wash., Meghan Cartwright Given (Rory) of New York, Matthew Hinsz (Rose) of Kansas City, Mo., Kristen Danner Reber (James) of Everett, Wash., Bonnie Miller of Gilbert, Ariz., Nicole Danner Helbling (Cody) of Moscow, Idaho, Amy Danner and Kate Danner of Coeur d’Alene, and Parker and Rylan Hodgkins of Gilbert. Four great-grandchildren: Alyssa and Henry Cartwright, McKinley Helbling, and Adelynn Reber.
Special thanks to Ralph and Lita Burns of Coeur d’Alene for their devoted friendship to Janet over the past few years.
Janet’s life will be remembered by family and friends during a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 625 E. Haycraft Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.
A graveside memorial will be held Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, in San Jose, Calif., at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Ave., San Jose, CA 95125. Friends of Janet are invited to join the family at 11 a.m.