Janice Marie Bezou

Blessed with a unique combination of grace, humility, warmth, and humor, Janice Bezou was the most fun to be around. Throughout her life, she attracted a long list of people who considered her their best friend. Her big-hearted kindness was noted even by people she dealt with in the most difficult circumstances: When her job responsibilities required that she work with homeowners who faced eviction after defaulting on their mortgages during the financial crisis of 2008, one such person actually sent her flowers!

Janice was born in New Orleans, LA, and raised by her mother Janice “Big Janice” in a prominent family that included a Mardi Gras King, a monsignor, and debutantes. Her childhood and teen years were enriched by her friend-to-this-day Bonnie “Bode” Noonan and numerous friends sneaking in and out of illegal gay bars in the French Quarter before the cops came.

Janice moved to San Francisco in 1973 with Mazel Looney. Over the years, Janice established herself as a successful department store clothing buyer, managed SF Shorenstein theater box office, became a Real Estate Broker, and finally a Real Estate Appraisal Manager for many banks, collecting close friends all along the way. But by far the most significant event of her life was meeting Julie Nunes, the love of her life, in 1984. Together, Janice and Julie made their homes in San Francisco (first on Pacheco Street, then Delano, finally 15th Avenue) before settling in San Rafael in 2000. Janice embraced Marin and, true to form, Marin embraced her. She delighted in their beautiful home, garden, and pool in Loch Lomond, which was filled with Julie’s plein air paintings, roses, music, theme parties that always ended with dancing, and a succession of cats—most recently, the formerly-feral ingrates Jack and Jill. Janice and Julie’s backyard wedding in 2013 filled the space with joyous celebrating long into the evening.

Janice was introduced to bocce in the late 1990s while living in SF and commuting to Petaluma for work. She started playing with the “Testa Dura” team on Friday nights at Marin Bocce in San Rafael, to avoid a horrendous commute back to SF. Over many years, she and Julie made countless friends from those delightful evenings lagging and lollygagging.

Their domestic travels took them to many National

Parks and to favorite spots like Carmel, Lake Tahoe, and New Orleans. Farther afield, they visited France, England, Italy, and Japan. Knowing what she did and did not like, Janice rarely accepted the first room offered in a hotel (and sometimes not even the second).

Janice worked tirelessly on becoming the best version of herself she could be. While she was self-aware, she was never selfimportant. Her loved ones recognized this and never stopped lifting her up.

Janice died peacefully at home after living with breast cancer for many years, with Julie at her side as she had always been. Her care team included outstanding, caring doctors, nurses, staff and counselors at: Kaiser San Rafael, Living/Dying Project, and Hospice by the Bay.

In addition to her beloved Julie and her many dear friends, Janice’s survivors include her brother Andy Ellis of Gilmer, TX, his wife Donna, her niece and nephew Heather and Ian, and grand-niece and grandnephew Ellie and George. Janice is dearly missed by her sisters-in-law, Maria Egloff and Diane (Frank) McCormack, and her niece and nephew Angel and James (Michelle) McCormack. She is pre-deceased by her mother, father, stepfather, and brother David Ellis.

Janice’s death leaves a permanent hole in our hearts. She would want people to remember her by expressing and living with love and kindness towards each other.

Those inclined to make donations in Janice’s name may do so to the Living/ Dying Project, P.O. Box 357, Fairfax, CA 94978-0357 or www.livingdying.org.