Janet A. "Jan" Meneely

On February 10, 2022, God gained another angel. Janet Audrey Meneely of Kootenai, Idaho entered eternal rest surrounded by her loving family, she was 81 years old. Jan was born on April 19, 1940 in Orofino, Idaho, to Rolfe and Barbara Hottell and married James (Jim) Meneely on May 3, 1958. In 1960, Jim and Jan made their home in Kootenai, ID where they raised their three girls Jacque, Jerrie and Julie. They were known as the 5 J’s! Jan worked in retail in Sandpoint at Sprouse Reitz, Furniture Exchange & Co-Op until they started their fishing charter business, Seagull Charters. Jan loved the years they spent traveling in their motorhome until they bought their second home in Arizona where they spent the winter months soaking up the sun with good friends. Life presented many health challenges for Jan but she fought them courageously. She never allowed it to get her down and was always making new friends along the way. Jan loved to be involved with her children's activities and was typically found volunteering at their schools, leading 4-H groups and never missed attending an activity or sporting event they were involved in. Jan had 7 grandchildren and proudly boasted about them often. She was always their No. 1 fan and they knew they could do no wrong in her eyes. Jan was happiest spending the day with her family & friends enjoying a meal, playing cards, going for a drive in the mountains or helping someone with a home improvement project. She loved camping with her family and taking road trips where long hours were spent singing along the way. Everyone that knew Jan, knows how talented she was. She would go above and beyond for her family and as a master seamstress, would make anything that they requested. She made clothes for special events, costumes and many matching square dance outfits for herself and Jim. Cooking and sharing food was her love language, it is how she chose to express her love for those close to her. As a gardening enthusiast, Jan grew both vegetables and flowers. She was the go-to for “starts and tips''. Driven by her passion to help others, Jan never turned down the opportunity to share her talents to help someone. She decorated cakes, sewed everything, created flower arrangements, upholstered furniture, made beautiful stained glass & etchings and would take on any homeowner project asked of her. Jan leaves to cherish her memory: her husband, Jim Meneely; her daughters, Jacque (Dave) Turner, Jerrie (Bruce) Colin, Julie Meneely Halliday; her grandchildren, Megan (Zac Manor) Turner, Danielle (Jimmy) Butts, Tiffany (Kyle) Cannon, Ryan (Amanda) Colin, Cody Halliday, Ashley Halliday (Stefan Buratto) & Allison Halliday; her great-grandchildren, Atlee, Tucker & Grant Colin, Charlee & Hank Cannon, Turner & Austin Butts, Layney & Layton Halliday, Reece (& one on the way) Buratto; her brother, David (Jeanette) Hottell, her sister Beth (Ray) Holmes and a host of dear nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Rolfe and Barbara Hottell; her step-mother, Jean Hottell Lynch, her brothers, Jim Hottell & Bob Hottell; her aunts Marion Schmidt and Doris Bare; her father and mother in-law, Frank & Faye Meneely and her sister-in-law, Evelyn Collins Perry. A Celebration of Jan’s Life will be held at a later date.