Janet Marie Schwind

Janet Marie Schwind, 58, of Houston, Texas died peacefully at home on October 3, 2018 of ovarian cancer. She was born April 16, 1960 in Pensacola, Florida, the daughter of Ernest Eugene Schwind, Jr. and Nomia Jean Hathaway Schwind. Janet grew up in Pensacola and graduated from W. J. Woodham High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and played clarinet in the band. She loved the beaches in her home town.

Janet is survived by her husband of 27 years, John Stegink, her sons, Daniel and Scott Stegink, her parents, her brother Jeff Schwind, and sister-in-law Lisa Habib. Most important to her in life were her relationships with people, beginning with being a loving mother to her sons and raising them with her beloved husband, John. She was a great friend to many, and she kept close connections with friends around the world during her life.

Always focused on helping others and working for social justice, Janet earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Western Florida, her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her PhD in Social Work from the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago. She later completed training as a child and adult psychoanalyst at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston, where she was also a director of the child analysis program and a member of the faculty.

After college, Janet volunteered in Nicaragua working for human rights, and in Pensacola she worked with pregnant women in a child abuse prevention program. During this time, she also played in a community symphony band, reflecting her lifelong love of music.

In Chicago Janet worked at the Juvenile Protective Association, where she provided therapy with mothers and children who were impacted by poverty and abuse. She brought the same energy, passion, intellect, and capacity to engage and nurture others that was always evident across her endeavors. In Houston she worked with parents of children with emotional special needs at The Harris School. She had a private practice of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis in Chicago and Houston, working with children, parents, families, and individual adults.

A memorial service will be held on January 6, 2019 at 11:00 AM in the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion at 1500 Hermann Drive in Hermann Park in Houston. Her family would like to thank the care teams at Methodist Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Vitas Healthcare for the good care Janet received. Donations may be made in Janet’s memory to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, MD Anderson Cancer Center, or Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation.