Janice Marie (Friedrichs) Blondeau, 72

Janice Marie (Friedrichs) Blondeau, 72, of Post Falls, Idaho, joined our Lord and her son, Bobby, in heaven on Feb. 17, 2016, at 9:30 p.m. Janice was born to Joseph R. Friedrichs of Minnesota and Teresa A. (Arbach) Friedrichs of South Dakota on May 13, 1943, in Spokane, Wash.

Janice grew up in Pinehurst, Idaho, and attended Kellogg High School. On Dec. 26, 1966, she married the love of her life, August Bernard (Bernie) Blondeau. They started their family in Portland, Ore., with the birth of their first three children. In 1974, Bernie and Jan moved their family to Columbia Station, Ohio, where another child and second daughter was born. The family resided in Ohio for 10 years. In 1984, they moved their family back to the Northwest to be closer to family. They resided in Issaquah, Wash., for 21 years. In 2005, they relocated to their current home in Post Falls to be closer to Janice’s mother, sisters and grandchildren.

During her single years before and after she met Bernie, she worked for Sears in Kellogg, Idaho, then Seaboard Finance in Seattle, Wash., and Portland. Jan then took a 17-year break to focus on being a mother to her children as well as being very active in her communities and churches. When the family moved to Issaquah, she chose to begin working outside the home again and took a position at Eddie Bauer. Janice retired from Eddie Bauer after 18 years. In all of her endeavors, Janice was very much respected and worked her way up to managerial positions.

Janice was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. God and family were the most important and closest things to her heart. She truly lived a life devoted to God, Jesus and Mary, Our Blessed Mother. Praying the Rosary was a daily ritual for Janice and she often said that the only thing that helped her through difficult times was her relationship to God. She was always an incredible example of her Catholic faith.

Janice’s love for life was infectious and inspiring. She lived every day to the fullest and appreciated God’s beauty in all things. Jan and Bernie enjoyed countless hours watching the Post Falls Trojans sporting events, Gonzaga basketball and their grandkids playing soccer. She is a No. 1 sports fan.

Janice is survived by her husband of 49 years, August Bernard Blondeau; son Bryan Bernard Blondeau of Seattle; daughters Jenine Marie Blondeau of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Brandy Teresa (Bill) Santiago of Greenacres, Wash.; brother James Friedrichs of Pinehurst, Idaho; sisters Joanne (Bob) Swan of Kingston, Idaho, and Jeanne (Larry) Sappington of Post Falls; granddaughter Isabella Marie Santiago and grandson Joseph William Santiago; numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Robert (Bobby) Paul Blondeau; father Joseph R. Friedrichs and mother Teresa A. Friedrichs.

There will be a Rosary Service on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 in honor of Janice’s life and devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

The memorial service to celebrate her extraordinary life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 4521 N. Arden Road, Otis Orchards, Wash.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Hospice of North Idaho and/or the UGM Center for Women and Children in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Please visit Janice’s online memorial and sign her guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.