Janice Helen Barwick, 71

Janice Helen Barwick, 71, of Athol, Idaho, passed away Aug. 3, 2023, at her home from natural causes. She was born Dec. 22, 1951, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to Curtis and Elinor (Nason) Adams, along with siblings Curtis Joseph Adams, Neil E. Adams and Anna May Adams, and best friend/sister Renee Amsbury.

Jan married Steven Kovatch on June 8, 1970, was widowed in 1973, her second marriage was to Owen Ormiston on Dec. 22, 1976, and she was widowed 12 years later. Finally, she married her soulmate and love of her life, Larry Jack Barwick, on June 1, 1990, and was widowed in December 2014.

Education: Graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School with honors in June 1971, North Idaho College-Associate of Science May 1981, attended Otero Jr. College and earned LPN in July 1985, graduated with her RN in 1987, graduated from Lewis-Clark State College in December 2007 with her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Jan was awarded Collegiate at Large by the U.S. Achievement Academy and was nominated as a National Collegiate Nursing Awards winner in 1987, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, graduated from ADN program at Otero Jr. College in 1987 and was on the dean's or president’s list for every quarter.

She began her nursing career by caring for her terminally ill father in the Fall of 1987. She worked at Bent County Nursing home in Las Animas, Colo. (1988-1991), Sunset Terrace Extended Care (1991-1993), Personal Care Inc. as a Home Care RN (1994-2001), Private Duty Nurse (1995-1998), Life Care Center (1998-2005), Ivy Court TCU (2005-2008). Her nursing career ended due to a shoulder injury.

She has spent the last nine years tatting and creating various beautiful patterns for tablecloths, jewelry, doilies, bookmarks and ornaments for her friends and family. She has also been part of the Shuttlebirds Tatting Guild. These ladies were her rock for the years she has been alone. She met with her guild every Wednesday and took many opportunities to demonstrate, learn and teach her beautiful tatting art to others. She successfully published her first tatting book this January and was full speed ahead with patterns for the next book. She loved horses and spent most of her adult life riding for pleasure and sport. She was an avid hunter and has compiled many trophies over the years.

This year’s great accomplishment was writing and publishing her tatting book, "Tat's Lite," this past January.

She truly loved making gifts for family and friends. She made ornaments, clothing, doll clothes, baby clothes and quilts. As a receiver of many of her gifts and, most of all, her love, I wish to honor her in any way I can as her great-niece.

She is survived by her brother, Neil (Glenda) Adams (Post Falls) and children Neil, Tonya, Tracy and Gary; nephew John Ritchie (Alaska); great-niece Cathy (Robert) Barnett and children: Deanna, Randy, Elinor, Krystina and Jessica; great-nephew Rich (Cheri) Johnson and children Faith and Falon; sister-in-law Kim Barwick; nephew Josh Van Gaalen and family; and multiple great-nieces, nephews and friends; especially longtime friends Marilyn Getzlman (Mo.), Pam and Earl who have been family more than mere friends, Bonnie, Charlotte and all the ladies from Shuttlebirds Tatting Guild. Apologies for those not mentioned, as she loved many and was loved by many more. Her surviving fur babies are Pockets and Stubby.

She was predeceased by her parents, Elinor (2010) and Curtis (1987) Adams; siblings Joey (baby) and Anna May (1977); nephew William Ritchie (2010), beloved husband Larry Jack (2014); niece Sheryle Tappe (2021); best friend and sister Renee Amsbury (2022).

She loved quilting, fishing, sewing, cooking, collecting Barbies, coins, horse figurines, books, canning, horse riding, hunting, camping and tatting. She published a book on tatting in January of this year, which was what kept her hands busy in her times of grief.

I (Cathy Barnett) spent every summer at my great aunt Jan and uncle Larry's home from 1992 on. They were my oasis filled with unconditional love and wisdom. I worked with my aunt from 2001 to 2005 and she was one of the best nurses I’ve had the pleasure to provide patient care with. She faced so much loss and tragedy in her life, but she always found a way to move forward and find that spark of life. I hope to honor her in that way, by moving forward and remembering all she taught me and all her love and acceptance she gave me no matter what.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden, Idaho. A viewing will be held prior to the service at 9:30 a.m. Jan’s online memorial is at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.