Janice "Jan" Habermel (Neely) Anderson

Mrs Janice (Jan) Neely Habermel Anderson, age 80, of Dallas, Texas, entered this life on October 1, 1941 in New Albany, IN where she lived for 75 of her 80 years. She was a 1959 graduate of New Albany High School where she was actively involved in music, choir, and theatre and kept in close contact with her best friends from High School throughout her life. She received her B.S. and her M.S. in Education from Indiana University. She was employed from 1974-2000 by the New Albany Floyd County School Corporation. She served as a teacher for 13 years, 4 years as an Assistant Principal, and as a Principal for 19 years. Most notably, she was the Principal of two schools simultaneously - St Mary of the Knobs and Lafayette Elementary while a third, Floyds Knobs Elementary was being built. Jan also was elected to the New Albany Floyd County School Board for two terms from 2010-2018 where she tried to always put children first in her decision making. Jan was very ambitious from a young age and always went for any goal she wanted to attain. Even with two small children and teaching full time she would travel to Indianapolis twice a week to obtain her Administrative License to further her career. She was incredibly talented artistically and had a beautiful singing voice and played piano. She was known for her sense of style and for turning heads everywhere she went. Her outer beauty was obvious but she also had a beautiful heart and led with compassion and grace throughout her life. Jan passed away on February 28, 2022 at 8:21am. She adored her loved ones and was immensely proud of the family she helped build. She is preceded in death by her parents Eskel Neely & Wilda Vass Neely Skidmore, brother Michael Neely (Phyllis), and by her husband, Ross Peter Anderson. She will be missed by her loving sons: Ben Habermel (Sonya Skeeters) and Brad Habermel (Jason Colna), her stepfather Richard Skidmore, her stepson Ross Anderson, and her stepdaughter Beth Gallic (Jeff). She leaves behind grandchildren Marissa Habermel (Miguel “Pedro” Lopez), Emma Habermel, Harlow Habermel-Colna, Nolan Anderson, Whitney Anderson, Carson Roos, Presley Roos (Cooper Samuels), Camden Roos, and Great Grandchildren Emmett June Samuels and Sawyer James Seidenfaden. She also leaves behind a close group of ladies she loved to spend time with and a huge army of friends who knew her as “Mama Jan”.

Visitation will be from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Friday, March 4, 2022 and 9:00 am -11:00 am Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Kraft Funeral Home, 2776 Charlestown Road, New Albany with a memorial service and celebration of Jan’s life on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 11:00 am. The burial will follow and will be for immediate family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may take the form of a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Blessings in a Backpack (checks to NAFCS Education Foundation with “Blessings” in memo 2813 Grant Line Rd, New Albany, Indiana 47150 or at www.biabfloyd.com.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kraftfs.com for the Anderson family.