Janet White

Janet White of Boise, Idaho died peacefully in her sleep on February 17, 2015 surrounded by her family.

During her long life, she lived in many places including San Francisco, California; Dunellen, New Jersey; New York City; Pakistan; Shippensburg, Pennsylvania; and Boise, Idaho. Janet and Jack, her twin, were born on September 30, 1930 to Harold and Edna (Mekemson) Swenson. She had two older brothers, Fred and Bill. She and her family drove from San Francisco, CA to Dunellen, New Jersey in 1939 during the Great Depression to have the help of her father's family. After graduating from high school, she attended nursing school at Columbia Presbyterian and then The Biblical Seminary for a Masters Degree in Theology in New York City.

Janet wanted to serve God by becoming a missionary. In 1958, she went to Pakistan and learned Urdu. She then spent four years sharing her love of God, teaching nursing and caring for the sick and injured. At the end of her mission to Pakistan, she returned to the United States and married Richard White. They had a daughter, Elizabeth(Beth), in September of 1963. She and Richard later divorced amicably. In 1966, she moved to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania where she raised Beth with the help of Florence Green, Beth's godmother. She continued to be active in church and never stopped learning about God and helping others. She worked as a nurse at the Shippensburg Medical Clinic and later at the Shippensburg University Health Center.

In 2003, she moved to Boise, ID to be close to her daughter and grandchildren. She developed a wide circle of friends and provided love and care on a daily basis to her grandchildren. In September of 2014, she was happy to move in to a new addition to her daughter's home to be even closer to her daughter and grandchildren.

Janet is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth, her son-in-law, Doug Varie, and her three grandchildren, Ian, Kristen, and Sean. She also has numerous nieces and nephews and her close family friends Dave, Malinda, Kimberly, Benjamin, and Betty Kate VanLith and their families and Greg, Sandy, Jason, and Andrew Hall and their families who will miss her.

Janet's life was defined by two foundations: her unwavering personal relationship with God and her enduring and abiding love for her family which included all of her friends. She maintained relationships with friends from high school, college, nursing school and her time as a missionary. Her family was large and included her sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews, her friends from Shippensburg, Canada, and Northern Ireland and her son-in-law's family. She regularly checked in on everyone that she included in her family circle. She had an talent for knowing when people needed help and was always willing to give of her time, wisdom, and most of all, her compassion and caring. She touched the lives of all around her, her friends and neighbors in Boise, her water aerobics gang, and just about anyone who was fortunate enough to fall into her orbit. She traveled extensively and was always up for a new challenge. She lived life to the fullest every day and made all of our lives brighter by her generosity and love. You will be missed Janet, but we are comforted by knowing you are with God and Jesus.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, February 20, 2015 at Cloverdale Funeral Home. A reception will follow at the Cloverdale Reception Center.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made to Treasures of Truth Publications. P.O. Box 89, Plenty, Saskatchewan, Canada SOL2RO.