Janice Lee Cesare, 85, passed away July 19, 2020. She lived in Colorado Springs for more than 45 years. She was proud to be from Pueblo where she graduated from Central High School and went on to become an X-Ray technician.
Jan was born to Petar Paripovich and Ana Zakula on February 5, 1935, in Pueblo. She was a homemaker who had a passion for volunteering in the Colorado Springs community. She served on the first board for Cheyenne Village, a nonprofit dedicated to serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and loved working at The Villagers, a consignment and antiques shop in Old Colorado City that was run by volunteers to support the work of Cheyenne Village. Her commitment to serving people with disabilities also led Jan to serve on the board of the ARC of the Pikes Peak Region. In 2000, she was the first female recipient of the F.B.I.’s Humanitarian Award in recognition for her years of volunteer service, an award she was proud to have received. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Jan is survived by her husband of 58 years, Donald; her daughter, Ann (Todd); and her grandchildren, Nicholas and Luke. She was preceded in death by her son, Jon, and seven siblings.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 24, at Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. at Pikes Peak National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jan’s name to Cheyenne Village, 6275 Lehman Dr., Colorado Springs, 80918, or online at www.cheyennevillage.org.
Carol Rodarme
22 Jul 2020Rest in peace, my dear friend. I will miss our conversations and laughs so much. So happy to have known you in this life and will look forward to seeing you again! Sincerest sympathy to Don and Ann. May your beautiful memories bring you peace and comfort.
Love & Prayers, Carol
Stanley Adams
22 Jul 2020Jan, who always had a smile on her face, will be missed by many of the folks who’s lives she has had the opportunity to share. RIP dear friend, your work here on earth ? is done.
Ron Truax
24 Jul 2020Don: I am so sorry to learn of Jan’s passing. While I did not know her personally, I felt I knew her through your wonderful book. I am forever grateful to you for your efforts in getting my parents from the Colo Sprgs airport during a snow storm in March, 1979, days after my first wife died. At the get together at my house in the Black Forest a few days later, wherein you assembled a bunch of cops and friends, my mother declared you the coolest guy on the planet. As usual, she was probably not wrong. After all settles down in a while, shoot me an email and let’s do a breakfast or at least coffee. I look forward to it. – Ron Truax. rtruax41@gmail.com. (Parole Dept)
Dave Spencer
27 Jul 2020Don, Ruth and I were very sad to hear of Jan’s passing. We wanted to attend the funeral but I am recovering from throat cancer and have to avoid crowds for the time being because of the pandemic. I’m doing fine and would really like to meet you for coffee or lunch when you can. You were always one of my favorite guys in law enforcement and I enjoyed working with you.