Janis Elaine Stoddard-Smith 1947 - 2009 Jan Stoddard-Smith was born October 27, 1947 in Pampa, Texas. She graduated from Needham High School in Massachusetts in 1965 and married David J. Smith in 1987. Jan was a strong and successful businesswoman who made her career with American States Insurance Co. in Florida and Indiana. She was a talented fine artist and crafter, dedicated volunteer in the community, loving grandmother, and animal advocate and caretaker. Jan enjoyed travel, had a wonderful sense of humor, and was spiritually devout. Jan's husband David died in 1996 and she later moved to Austin, Texas to be with family and focus on her healing. She is survived by her great uncle, Gerald D. Stoddard of Brockton, Massachusetts; her daughter and son-in-law, Maraba and Chris DiRaddo of Austin, Texas; her son and daughter-inlaw, Morgan and Katie Hansill of Indianapolis, Indiana; her grandchildren, Anthony, Charlie and Henry DiRaddo, Riley, Lola and Piper Hansill; her sister, Nancy S. Bailey; niece, Bretta Nunez and grand- niece Alexis Nunez of Long Island, New York. In Jan's final months, she was cared for and nurtured by family, friends, hospice and her community. It was a beautiful circle of support. The family would like to especially thank Mikail Davenport and the Austin Sufi community, the Shambhala Buddhist Center Cancer Communities volunteer group, the Austin Hospice Red team, Rebecca Haning, Rachel Rollman, Cherileigh Beauchamp, Kyle Gillman, Rosa Contreras and Ferne Martinez. A memorial service for Jan Stoddard-Smith will be held on October 25, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Zilker Botanical Garden. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wee Rescue of Austin, Texas.
From the Austin Statesman
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