Janney Vee Burgess

Janney Vee (Swan) Burgess, aged 95, died on February 19, 2017, at home in Lawrence, Kansas. She lived a full and complete life, and said she had not one regret. She was known for her compassion, her fierce intellectual curiosity, her sharp wit, her passionate concern for human rights, and her civic engagement. She always stood up for others, on the side of love.

She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, November 5, 1921, to Jennie M. (Nairn) Swan and William A. Swan, MD and DO. Her mother had been an actress in repertory theater prior to marriage. Her father had a medical practice in Kansas City. He died when she was six years old, and she was raised by her mother and grandmother. She had fond memories of her public school education at the Norman School and Westport Junior High and High School.

She met Arthur Pershing Burgess at a church youth group in Kansas City and they fell in love, and then married at Trinity Methodist Church on Feb. 9, 1944. His seven siblings gave her the large family she had always craved, and she had especially close relationships with her sisters-in-law. Arthur and Janney eventually had five daughters. Anne was born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1945 while Arthur was in military service. Susan (1946) and Robin (1951) were born in Kansas City, Kansas while Arthur and Janney were attending the University of Kansas. After Arthur completed his medical degree, the family moved to Oswego, Kansas, where Jean was born in 1954, and Gwen was born in 1955. Janney worked for many years as the office nurse in Arthur's medical practice, which was conveniently right next to their home. Her mother lived next door and was always involved in family activities and travel. Janney was very active in the Oswego community, as part of the Methodist Church, the PTA, the Garden Club, the NAACP, Girl Scouts, and the Public Library Board. Janney was determined to continue her education, and finally finished her BA in 1957 with five little kids underfoot, then an MS in education in 1976 and BS in nursing in 1981 at the age of 60 from Pittsburg State University. She was an instructor of nursing at Labette Community Junior College in Parsons, Kansas from 1975 until 1985. She loved teaching, and training future nurses.

After retirement she and Arthur began exploring the country in a succession of motor coaches. They spent many months each year on the road, visiting their daughters' growing families all over the country. They also traveled to France, Aruba, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico. They were especially fond of the Snowy Range in Wyoming and Big Bend in Texas. During the long hours of driving, Janney pieced together quilts. She memorialized almost every family marriage, birth, and coming of age by creating a special and highly personal hand-stitched quilt, designed in collaboration with the recipient. There were at least thirty-eight of them, some from traditional patterns and some she designed herself, all hand stitched. The collection was the subject of a photographic tribute to her artwork in honor of her 85th birthday. She stitched four generations together, and her quilts are a warm and lasting reminder of her love for family.

As a city girl, Janney had been somewhat reluctant to settle in the small town of Oswego, but agreed to do it on the condition that she could choose where to live when they retired. Arthur kept his promise, and they moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 1992 to enjoy the university community. By that time their daughters had begun moving back to Lawrence with their own families, so the Burgesses had ever-larger birthday parties and holiday celebrations. They continued gardening, traveling, and stargazing. They loved being with each other, and spent endless hours together playing Scrabble. Janney was very much involved with the community, volunteering with Link kitchen, Small World, Health Care Access, Douglas County Visiting Nurses, the Lawrence Community Theatre, Kansas Health Care for All, the Older Women's League, and the Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence. They regularly delivered Senior Meals, and later benefited from having deliveries made to them when her failing eyesight made it unsafe for her to cook. They lived in the Barker neighborhood until Arthur died in November of 2015. In February 2016, Janney moved to Brandon Woods at Alvamar. To the end, she passionately lived the mission of the Unitarian Fellowship: to love inclusively, nurture spiritual growth and connection, freely explore life's big questions, and act for justice. Her family and friends gathered for a joyful celebration of her 95th birthday this past November and she basked in their love. Despite facing end-stage congestive heart failure, she was uncomplaining and happy to her last day. She treasured every moment she was alive, and made it count.

She is survived by friends and family who simply adored her and will miss her forever: her daughters Anne Louise Burgess (husband Mel Smith, daughters Cary Allen and Mishea Jackson, and her grandchildren Lily, Sam, Henry, and Ida Allen, and Ameera Jackson), Susan Kay Burgess (husband Dana Chillag, children Ben Seibel, Gabe Chillag, and Greta Burgess Zeitlin; her grandchildren Mika Seibel, Lylah and Sam Zeitlin, and Grace Chillag), Robin Lynne (companion Don Barber, her children Amy Jackson, Leah Roselyn, Maura Mitterbauer, Logan Carland; and her grandchildren Jacob Young, and Delano, Elijah, Juniper, and River Jackson, and Willow Roselyn, and Jackson, Forrest, and Isabel Mitterbauer, and Jackie Hamilton), Jean Elaine Burgess (husband Eric Farnsworth, and her daughter Emma Burgess-Olson), and Gwen Ellen (Gopi) Sandal (husband Onkar Sandal, her sons Neela, Abhi, and Kedar Sandal, and her grandchildren Keshava Sandal and Karunika Sandal).

A memorial celebration of Janney's life will be held March 19 at The Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence, with her friend the Reverend Jill Jarvis officiating. Her remains will go to the family plot at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Civil Liberties Union to help carry on her fight for human rights.