Janet Loree Rodkey

Janet Rodkey, 69, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. She was born November 17, 1946 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania to Russell W. and Brittie Jane (Preston) Wise. She grew up in western Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey, graduating in 1965 from Summit High School. She spent 1964 as an exchange student in Estcourt, Natal, South Africa where she met her lifelong friend and "sister" Lesley Ann (Forder) Craig. For two years, she attended Goucher College in Towson, Maryland where she met her future husband, David Rodkey. Janet graduated from UCLA in 1969. After their marriage in Los Angeles in 1969, Janet and David moved to Washington, DC area to begin their careers. Initially teaching elementary school, Janet soon discovered her passion for theater and took academic leave to obtain a Masters Degree in directing from the Catholic University of America. Janet taught at the high school level for the rest of her career. She taught various subjects, including English, Theater, Photography and TV Production, but her greatest pleasure came from producing and directing plays both in the high school and with local community theater groups. After their retirement, Janet and David moved to the Rogue Valley in 2003 where Janet threw her boundless energy into a whole new set of projects. She became a master gardener and master food preserver, presided over the Ashland New Plays Festival for two years and played on traveling USTA tennis teams. Janet enjoyed traveling around the world with David, playing tennis, hiking, bicycling, cross country skiing, gardening, canning, reading and so much more. Her greatest passion, however, was creative adventures with her three grandchildren, Brandon, Emerson and Preston. Janet was preceded in death by her father, Russell Wise. She is survived by her mother Brittie Wise of Medford; sister Debbie Hild and her husband Doug of Los Angeles, CA; nephew Oliver Hild of Los Angeles; her husband of 47 years, David Rodkey; her son, Matt Rodkey and his wife Lisa of Melrose, Massachusetts; her son Chris Rodkey and his wife Sarah of Beverly, Massachusetts and three grandchildren, Brandon Rodkey, Emerson Rodkey and Preston Rodkey. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday October 15, 2016 at the Trail Christian Fellowship in Shady Cove, Oregon. Janet's family woudl like to thank the many kind professionals at Hematology Oncology Associates, Rogue Regional Medical Center, Providence Cancer Center and Providence Hospice who cared for her during her illness this year. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Parkinson's Resources of Oregon (parkinsonsresources.org) Arrangements are by Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives. (www.roguevalleyfunerals.com)