Janice Jule Durbin (Nakao)

Janice Jule Durbin (Nakao) passed away on Nov. 14, 2024 at the age of 74 in California.  

 Born on July 9, 1950, to Jiro and Jenny Nakao in Weiser, Idaho she brought her distinctive spirit, infectious sense of humor and determination to all those who knew her. 

 She is survived by her husband Dennis, brother Lane (Nancy) Nakao, sister Kelly (Michael) Bluman, sons Joe (Stephanie) Durbin and Doug (Shantelle) Durbin, three grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews in Oregon, Nevada, and Ohio. 

 She is preceded in death by her parents Jiro and Jenny Nakao, and brother Al Nakao.  

 Jan was a master at gift wrapping and creating unique gifts. She loved shopping on QVC, Nascar events, baseball, and trips to Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas. Her tenacity for education served her well throughout life and helped guide her children to receiving college degrees. She was in the top ten academically when she graduated in 1968 from high school in Weiser. She went on to receive a B.A. from The College of Idaho in 1972 with a double major in business and accounting. 

 She began her work career with Idaho Power in Boise and worked for a short time at Montana Power in Butte. In 1980 she was hired by Sohio Petroleum in San Francisco as an auditor. Her first job assignment was in Dallas where she met Dennis, the love of her life, and they moved to Alaska where they were married in 1981. Jan and Dennis then moved to Ohio in August 1981 and started a family. Work opportunities for Dennis led them back to Dallas in 1984 and to California in 1985 where they planted roots and continued raising their two sons.    

 Jan loved reading, poetry, and simple inspirational quotes about life. One quote from a Dr. Seuss book provides a focus on the here and now: “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” 

 The memories we all have of Jan are priceless and will live on through all those she has influenced.