Janice Elaine Pardue

On December 21, 2023, Janice E. Pardue passed away peacefully in her home. Janice was born on November 3, 1956 to George and Sarah Pardue in Houston, Texas, the third of four children. She was very talkative as a child, and one of her first nicknames was “talking machine.” In the third grade, her teacher wrote on her report card that “she talks too much.” When she was in the fifth grade, her mother let her stay up late to watch “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and from that moment on, she knew that she was destined to be a lawyer! She had unforgettable naturally curly hair her entire life, which made it easy for old friends to recognize her, even if they hadn’t seen her for years. She was known for her intelligence, her wit and her effervescent personality. She graduated from Bellaire High School as a National Merit Scholar and with scholarships, University of Texas (B.A.) (cum laude and Dean’s List), and University of Texas Law School (J.D.). After law school, Janice embarked on an extended tour of Europe, which aroused her appetite for adventure, which she pursued for the rest of her life. She was introduced to her future husband, James Cornell, whom she referred to as “My Sweet Jim,” by their mutual friend. For over 40 years, they were passionately in love and inseparable. Friends referred to them as “Janice-and-Jim,” blurring their names together as though they were one persona. They each recognized that “kisses are a better fate than wisdom.” Since they met on October 14th, they celebrated the 14th of every month thereafter as a “month-i-versary.” They even had their own personal Valentine’s Day, March 14th. Over the years, Janice would make a toast to their match-maker saying “Thank you, Bob.” Janice knew very early in their relationship that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Jim, that they were soulmates, and that if Jim had asked her to marry him within a couple of months of their first date, she would have accepted. Janice often said that Jim was the “center of my universe,” that meeting Jim was the best thing that ever happened to her and how proud she was of their long, loving relationship. Early on, she wrote to Jim “Your touch has electrified my life.” Decades later she wrote, “I love you so much it hurts, Sweetness. But, it's a good hurt, a strong feeling of love and devotion.” As a tradition, on the last day of every year, Janice would take Jim to lunch to celebrate their love, and to revel in another wonderful year cherished together. They always knew that they were “double lucky,” a phrase which they coined to describe their good fortune. They were lucky to have found each other in the first place, and they were even luckier because they recognized and appreciated their good fortune and their love. Jim shared Janice’s Wanderlust, and they travelled extensively, having many adventures throughout the US, Spain, Italy, UK, Ireland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Turkey, Mexico, Cuba, Morocco, Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Kenya, and other destinations. Janice was a spontaneous spirit, always full of life and energy, an unconventional and fiercely independent thinker, self-possessed and strong-willed, a sweet and affectionate soul with a kind heart. Her perennial exhortation, “C’mon, let’s go!” epitomized Janice. She was always impatient to go: go do something or go see something or go see someone. Janice had an unquenchable thirst for life, and her unrelenting enthusiasm was irresistible. Throughout her life, Janice maintained a sense of joy and wonder. Her emotions and laughter were as pure and guileless as a child’s. “Vivacious” is a word often used to describe her. She was also very eclectic and inquisitive. She was just as comfortable dancing in a Greek dive along the ship channel, attending a wrestling match, a welding class, a monster truck rally, a roller derby, or a tattoo convention as she was at a ballet, a symphony, a poetry reading, an art museum, an opera or a rock concert. When her husband would suggest some quirky, off-the-wall event or experience, she would laughingly say to him “you would never find any other woman in the whole world to do this with you.” And, she was right! Janice was fearless. To the very end, she delighted in new experiences and adventures. They had a shared sense of humor and they laughed together, every day. Janice was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Houston art scene. She bought art from local artists, visited studios, attended countless openings, hosted artist receptions in her home, and supported individual artists. Janice was an avid and accomplished photographer, a passion which they both nourished. Being a “people person,” Janice also loved to entertain, and they had hundreds of dinners, brunches, parties, cook outs, concerts, receptions, fundraisers, festivities, and celebrations with friends, neighbors and family in their home, which they dreamed of, designed and built together. Janice loved the outdoors, and she and her husband went running or biking every day, and hiked all over Texas and the West. Janice was generous, going out of her way to help strangers in need in any way she could. She frequently cared for friends who were ill. She enjoyed mentoring younger lawyers in the Inns of Court, and volunteering for the Wildlife Center and Meals On Wheels. Of all of the many wonderful character traits that Janice embodied, her deep and abiding kindness was paramount, the core of her personality. Janice always woke up with a smile on her face, had a wicked sense of humor and a contagious laugh, was fun and funny, sophisticated and silly, unpretentious and fiercely honest, adventurous and pillow-fight playful, loved people and loved to make people laugh. Even in the late stages of her illness, she continued to entertain the people around her.

Professionally, Janice was a Board Certified family lawyer. She practiced law at the Domestic Relations Office and in private practice, served as an Associate Family Law Judge and, finally, opened her own mediation practice. She was selected by her peers as a Super Lawyer and served as Chair of the HBA Family Law Section, Gulf Coast Family Lawyers, the Collaborative Law Section and Association of Women Attorneys. She received the Women of Excellence award and the AWA Tiffany Star Award. She was a frequent author and lecturer on family law issues. Because she was small in stature, her opponents sometimes underestimated her, much to their chagrin. People often asked her how she could cope with practicing family law, an emotionally charged area of law fraught with strife. She always answered, “At the end of the day, I go home to my wonderful husband, and my life is perfect.”

R. W. Emerson wrote that the measure of a life is not its length, but its depth. In that regard, Janice lived and loved deeply and passionately and fearlessly. She was a consummate friend, companion, confidante, lover and wife. She was a beautiful, extraordinary and unique woman. She will be profoundly missed and mourned, but never forgotten, by all who knew her. Janice is survived by her husband, Jim Cornell, her brother and sister-in-law, Charlie Pardue (Sandi), her brother-in-law, Phil Cornell (Lynette), her sister, Pam Reeder (Robin) and nieces, Katie Prentice (Ben) and Kelley DeCleene (Logan). Special thanks and deepest, eternal gratitude go to her brother and her sister-in-law, Charlie Pardue and Sandi Leal, for their tireless, selfless and unwavering support of, deep compassion and love towards Janice and Jim over many difficult years. She deeply appreciated all of the love and care that they bestowed upon her. We wish to also thank Miriti Zakios, Esmeralda Ramos and Kennie Okonkwo for the love and kindness that they always showed Janice as her caregivers. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Baylor College of Medicine’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center, Houston Methodist’s Nantz National Alzheimer’s Center, or the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Janice. A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date. Good bye, my dearest and lovingest Janice, my beautiful wife, love of my life. I will love you and miss you, always and forever -- Your Sweet Jim

A Celebration of Life will be held for Janice on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 2 PM in the chapel of Heights Funeral Home.