Janet Marie Brooks

Janet was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the daughter of Esther and Anthony Gerszewski, and was raised in the SF Bay Area.

Janet graduated from Notre Dame High School in Belmont, California in 1958. In 1997 she graduated from Fresno State with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics…

Janet was married to William Brooks for 25 years. Bill was mom’s favorite tennis partner and traveling companion. She and Bill loved watching college football, especially his Alma Mater, USC. She could hold her own with the best of them on any sports talk. A self proclaimed statistician on pro basketball, baseball, football and tennis!

Janet loved tennis, playing the piano, sewing and knitting, writing poetry for her family and daily crosswords.

Janet was a parishioner of St. Paul’s Newman Center in Fresno, where she had many long time friends.

She loved life and had a great sense of humor that got her through the hard times. Everywhere she went, she looked like a million bucks. You’d never know the challenges she faced as a single mother of four. Even in her last days, she told us she was not giving up. She challenged herself daily and her passion for sports and her competitive nature often took over and carried through to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A SF Bay Area native, dedicated Giants fan and member of the first ever Forty Nine Cheer squad!

Remaining to cherish Janet’s memory are children, Christopher and wife Mary, Shannon Varunok and husband Paul, Erin Hansen and husband Tim and Kevin; grandchildren, Erin and husband Danny Munster, Tyler and wife Ruby, Brenna, Phoebe, Sloan, Gunnar, Leif, and Kassidi; great-grandchildren, Christopher, Grace, and Lucia; brother Van Gerszewski, nieces Denise and Stephanie and nephews, Darren and Gary.

Preceding Janet in death are spouse, William Brooks, parents, Esther and Anthony Gerszewski and her four children’s father Michael Flynn.

Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 21 2023 at St. Paul’s Newman Center at 11:00 AM with a reception to follow.

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