1936 – 2016

SAN CLEMENT, Calif. — Janet Ann Spidell, 80, passed away on Sunday, April 10, from complications of a stroke, at her home in San Clemente, Calif.

Janet was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on Jan. 14, 1936, the daughter of John Francis Murphy and Veronica (Hafner) Murphy.

Janet graduated from Milwaukee’s Messmer High School in the Class of 1954. She enrolled in the nursing program at St. Agnes School of Nursing (now Merriam College) in Fond du Lac, Wis., and graduated with the Class of 1957.

After working in Portage, Wis., for a year, she and several classmates pooled their money and bought a 1955 Chevy station wagon, and headed west to Long Beach, Calif. She worked at Long Beach Memorial Hospital for many years.

She married Bob Spidell, a native of Andover, at St. Matthew’s Church in Long Beach, Calif., on Dec. 28, 1963. They soon moved to Anaheim, Calif., where they lived for the next 35 years and became the parents of Robert, Susan, Jennifer and James.

While living in Anaheim, she became active in the League of Women Voters and served on the board of directors for Halcyon, a nonprofit organization that benefits homeless families.

For the past 30 years, Janet and her husband, Bob, traveled twice yearly to Bob’s hometown of Andover to spend time with family and friends.

In the late 1990s, she and her husband sold their business, Spidell Publishing, and moved to San Clemente, Calif., to enjoy their retirement. Janet loved flowers and volunteered as a “gardening angel” at Mission San Juan Capistrano, and also volunteered as a “friend of the library” at San Clemente Public Library.

She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Robert A. Spidell of San Clemente, Calif.; son, Robert W. Spidell and his wife, Christine, and grandchildren, Nathan and Alexandra Spidell of Fullerton, Calif.; daughter, Susan Clardy and her husband, William Clardy, and grandson, Logan Clardy, all of Farmingdale, and Ian Clardy of Cedar City, Utah; daughter, Jennifer Hamdi and grandson, Khalil Hamdi of Andover; granddaughters, Sumaya Hamdi of Farmington and Nisrina Turnick of Cleveland, Ohio; and great-granddaughter, Sylvie Turnick of Cleveland, Ohio; son, James Spidell of Perris, Calif.; brother, James Murphy and sister-in-law, Sina Murphy of Gibsonia, Pa.; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Janet always had a smile on her face and always looked for the best in people. She will be missed by all who knew her.