JA’NET PARK RUSH
09/13/1954 - 02/26/2023
Our beloved mother, Ja’net Park Rush, 79, of Las Vegas, passed away on February 26th, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. Mary Ja’net Park made her entrance into this world in Houston as the first daughter born to King Travis Park and Mary Simms Park on August 13th, 1943.
Never one to sit idle, Ja’net attended Jeff Davis High School and Durham Business College while also working at Foley’s and then American Express. Eventually, Ja’net went to work at Superior Trucks in Houston, where she met the one true love of her life, Marvin Rush.
Ja’net was married to William Marvin Rush on January 18th, 1969. Their 21-year marriage was filled with the adventures of raising children, traveling the world, and building beautiful memories with their large extended family. Following their divorce, Ja’net chose to never remarry and believed until her passing that no one could ever equal her love for Marvin.
Ja’net was a voracious reader her entire life. She loved improving her mind, knowledge, and spirit. While married to Marvin, they joined the Christadelphian Church in Houston, where they were very involved in their bible study group. Ja’net maintained her deep commitment with God through the decades. She also had a passion for helping others in crisis. After she and Marvin relocated to San Antonio, Ja’net volunteered at the
Rape Crisis Center of San Antonio for many years. She felt deeply that victims of sexual assault be supported and not feel alone. Ja’net spent many late nights in hospitals offering emotional support to frightened women and girls whom had fallen victim to assault or abuse.
Throughout her life, Ja’net always strived to be the best mother and role model she could be. She never knew a stranger and always had an open door or a hand ready to help others. Ja’net was always the first one to include her children and her nieces and nephews in her countless adventures. She surrounded herself with the love of family, friends, and animals always. Ja’net was a vibrant soul who lived life to the fullest and on her own terms. She loved bright colors, never failed to turn every head when she entered a room, had a smile that would light up even the darkest places, and always tried to share the fun and her absolute joy of life with all. Being a world traveler, Ja’net loved Hawaii the most. She loved the surf, the sand and the sun, as well as all the fragrant beautiful Hawaiian flowers, but most of all, she loved to dance! Ja’net and Marvin turned a lot of heads when they hit the dance floor, and Ja’net was truly happiest when she was dancing! We know she is dancing now forever with a smile.
Ja’net is survived by: her daughter, Tona Rush van Heerden, and son-in-law, Jacques van Heerden of New Braunfels, Texas; her son, Parker Eugene Rush of Las Vegas, Nevada; her only grandchild, Olivia Rose Rush of Orange, California; her sister, Rose Ann Hancock of Houston, Texas; her brother, Donald Eugene Park, and sister-in-law, Joyce Park of Galveston, Texas; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, lifelong friends and her beloved dogs, Bella and Callie.
Services for Ja’net will be held at Brookside Funeral Home and Memorial Park, located at 13747 Eastex Freeway in Houston, Texas, on March 25th at 2:00pm. Visitation will precede the service with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in ‘The Memory of Ja’net Park Rush’ to any of the following charities: Your local Rape Crisis Center, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), or your local Humane Society.