Janet "Jan" Lee Estep

Janet “Jan” Lee Estep was born on October 4, 1934. After 90 years of life well spent, Jan went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 10, 2024. She passed peacefully at home with her family and beloved caregiver by her side.

Jan was born in Pike County, Ohio and later moved to Columbus, Ohio to attend West High School. After graduating, she went to work for Westinghouse Electric Corp. where she met her future husband, Bob Estep, whom she married in 1957. She spent her life in pursuit of knowledge and experiences. After raising her family, Jan decided to further her education. Jan attended Northeastern University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She worked as an Administrative Assistant to the CEO of Telco Systems.

She was an antique collector, reader, quilter, loved sewing, but her special love was flower gardening. She and Bob moved down to Clayton, NC in 1995 to be closer to their daughter, Elaine. She then went on to pursue her gardening passion by becoming a Master Gardener through the NC State University extension program. She enjoyed organizing garden tours and igniting a gardening passion in her grandchildren.

Family and friends were deeply important to Jan. During the early years of marriage, family vacations often included friends and their children. When Jan and Bob’s children got married and had families of their own, Jan prioritized family togetherness by organizing family trips in many locations across the US, the Bahamas, and a weeklong cruise, helping bridge the distance between family members.

Jan was predeceased by her husband, Bob Estep, mother, Bernice Cottrell Dunkin, father, Leonard Young Dunkin, sister, Judy Bruce and husband, William Bruce, brother, Charles Dunkin and wife Beverly Dunkin, and sister-in-law, Myrtle Estep.

Jan is survived by children, Elaine Hansen (Paul) of Knightdale, NC, Bradley Estep (Rosanne) of Plaistow, NH; grandchildren, Jennifer Lee Hansen Graham (Michael) of Wake Forest, NC, Laura Hansen Wilder (Henry) of Wake Forest, NC, Zachary Estep (Lauren) of Rochester, NH, Katherine Silva (Jon) of Wilton, NH; 6 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Gary Estep of Dublin, OH; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to recognize all the wonderful caregivers at Right at Home who joined with the family in providing Jan loving home care through her final years.

In Lieu of Flowers please consider making a donation to an organization of your choice to help the affected families of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.

A visitation for Janet will be held Tuesday, October 15, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7209 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612. Mrs. Estep will be buried in Raleigh Memorial Park during a private service. Pallbearers will be Zachary Estep, Jeramiah Graham, Michael Graham, III, Michael Graham, Jr., Ronald Graham, Jon Silva, and Henry Wilder.

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