Mrs. Jan Armstrong Neuenschwander

Jan Armstrong Neuenschwander was a devoted, generous, loving mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, stepmother, aunt, sister, daughter, and friend. She slipped peacefully away, surrounded by her loving family, on the morning of the 20th of January 2024 in Houston, Texas. She was 88 years of age.

Jan was born on the 1st of November 1935, in Roswell, New Mexico, to Loulie Edith Armstrong nee Maddux and Geard “Rusty” B. Armstrong, Jr. She was graduated from Roswell High School, where she was Homecoming Queen, Student Council Treasurer; Most Beautiful Girl; and a member of the National Honor Society and the Pep Squad. Jan spent her freshman year at Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Virginia, and was graduated from the University of Texas, where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity.

She was blessed with a daughter, Christine “Christi” Lynn Neuenschwander Parker, whom she loved wholeheartedly. Jan and Christi became sisters when Christi became a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity. Jan even served as the “High Priestess” of Christi’s pledge class’s initiation and shared her Greek name. Later, Christi doubly blessed Jan with a granddaughter, Loulie Margaret Parker, whom she loved and who brought her great joy.

When Jan moved to Houston in 1957, she worked as a secretary at Humble Oil and then at Fayez Sarofim & Co. She made lifelong friends with her many roommates and others in the 1950s and 1960s while living at an apartment complex on Mid Lane, humorously known by the 20- and 30-somethings who lived there as “Sin Alley.”

Later in life, Jan earned her real estate license but quickly realized selling wasn’t her forte. She then became the office manager of Barrere & Co., Realtors, where she excelled.

Jan, a person of deep faith, was a long-time member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, where she served as the president of the Episcopal Church Women, a Sunday school teacher, and a member of the Altar Guild. She was the perennial treasurer for many organizations, including the Houston Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, the Theta Charity Antiques Show, the Covenant House gala, and the Theta Wild Kats investment club. In addition, she was a Kinkaid School parent volunteer, a docent at the Museum of Natural Science, and a photographer for the Theta Charity Antiques Show.

Jan was a member of the Forest Club, where she enjoyed being a part of the book club and the marathon bridge group; the breakfast club; her needlepoint, bridge, and Mah Jongg groups; and the Lady Washington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Throughout her life, Jan loved to learn. She took photography classes at the Glassell School of Art and Rice University and religion and philosophy classes at The Women’s Institute of Houston, among many others. Many relied on her for her wit, wisdom, and computer expertise.

Jan is preceded in death by her parents and close friend and former husband, Donald Wayne Neuenschwander. She is survived by her daughter, her daughter’s husband, Robert Joseph Parker, and their daughter; her brother, Richard “Dick” Rhoades Armstrong of Albuquerque, New Mexico and his wife, Joanne Wolf Armstrong; her nephew, David Rhoades Armstrong of Cedar Crest, New Mexico, his wife Hillary Minich Armstrong, their children Wyatt Russell Armstrong and Meryl Cecilia Armstrong; and her niece Laurie Ann Armstrong of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is also survived by her stepchildren James Brody Neuenschwander of Bruges, Belgium, his wife, Nadine Le Baq Neuenschwander, and their daughter and Jan’s godchild, Clara Elizabeth Neuenschwander; and Caron Neuenschwander LaMay, her daughters, Sophia Nicole LaMay, and Phoebe LaMay Nichols and her husband, George Austin Peterman Nichols.

The family would like to thank Dr. Martin R. White, Dr. Michael F. Campbell, Dr. John J. Seger, and all their nurses and staff for their continued care. We would also like to thank everyone at the Methodist Hospital, Family Tree Private Care, U.S. Renal Care at 8181 N. Stadium Drive, and Houston Hospice for their care and support.

All are cordially invited to a gathering of family and friends, which will be held from 5:30 in the afternoon to 7:30 in the evening on Thursday, the 1st of February, in the reception and visitation rooms of Earthman Funeral Directors, 8303 Katy Freeway, in Houston. Please feel free to come dressed as you are in your most comfortable, bedazzled/shiny shoes in honor of Jan.

A memorial service is to be conducted at 3:00 in the afternoon on Friday, the 2nd of February, in the Church at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where The Rev. R. Wesley Arning will officiate. St. Martin’s streams these services on YouTube, and links to the stream will be placed on the Church website at least 24 hours before each service on this page https://stmartinsepiscopal.org/funerals/.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a location to be announced during the service.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those wishing to make memorial donations, the family requests with gratitude that they be directed to one of the following organizations through their website or by mail: St. Martin’s Episcopal Church for the Wayside Chapel, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX, 77056; Trees for Houston, 1991 W 34th Street, Houston, TX, 77018; or The Brookwood Community, 1752 FM 1489, Brookshire, TX 77423. To allow the family to thank you for your donation, please add that your gift is in memory of Jan Neuenschwander.