Janice Boals

Janice (Dickson) Boals, beloved wife, mom, stepmom, grandma, aunt, and friend passed peacefully in her home in Wilsonville, Oregon, with her daughter by her side, on March 26, 2024, at age 80. Janice was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada on June 27, 1943 to Glen and Virginia Dickson. At age 4, the family moved to southern California. She grew up in Long Beach and Lakewood, CA and graduated from Fullerton Union High School in 1961. She married Thomas Barr, with whom she had three children, Mike, Julie, and Laurie. In her early years, Janice enjoyed homemaking, cooking, sewing, and eventually working, spending her career as the manager of a credit union. Janice and Tom divorced after 20 years of marriage and she later found love again with Donald Boals, whom she married in 1992, gaining four step-children, Melissa, Jeff, Lucinda, and Greg. Janice and Don made their home in Corona del Mar, CA, for 24 years. They found great joy in their combined family of 7 children and 15 grandchildren. They enjoyed hiking, traveling with their RoadTrek, entertaining friends with potlucks on the bluffs and in their home, and taking the grandchildren to the beach. In 2016, they moved to Wilsonville, Oregon, and into the senior living community of SpringRidge at Charbonneau. Janice was generous with her love and time, caring for her daughter, Julie, who passed away in 2001, and then helping to care for Julie’s daughters, Kelly (Gess) Canady and Stephanie (Gess) Bartlett. She lovingly cared for Don after he developed Alzheimer’s disease until he passed in 2020. Janice was well-loved by all who met her. She was happiest while planning and hosting social gatherings, decorating, buying and wrapping gifts for the holidays, shopping, and including new people into her circle of friends. She loved bright colors, fresh flowers, nice clothes, lipstick, and always had a big smile on her face to greet you. Her eternal optimism became particularly evident as she faced continuing health challenges over the past several years. Janice was preceded in death by her husband Donald Boals, daughter Julie Gess, sister Diane English, brother Dave Dickson, her parents and her ex-husband. She is survived by her children Michael (Debi) Barr and Laurie (Mark Kochanowski) Barr; step-children Melissa Zotovich, Jeff (Beau) Boals, Lucinda (Jim) Francis, and Greg (Lisa Rienstra) Boals; sister-in-law Sandee Dickson; grandchildren Kelly, Stephanie, Kiana, Kevin, Nathan, Brennan, Devin, Logan, Justin, Jordan, Jaden, Gracie, Joey, Ian, and Adam; and seven (soon to be ten) great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews Kat, Rob, Randall, Drew and Lane; several cousins; and many, many loving friends, some for more than 60 years. A celebration of Janice’s life will be held during the summer in Corona del Mar, CA. Her ashes will be placed in the Pacific Ocean. The family is thankful for the caring staff at SpringRidge Court and Housecall Providers Hospice for their support during her final weeks. Remembrances can be made to Cure PSP at www.psp.org.

Janice Boals

June 27, 1943 - March 26, 2024