Janelle Pearl Berger

Janelle "Jan" Berger, age 66 of Stagecoach, passed away November 18, 2018. The Addison family and staff of Magnolia Funeral Home extend condolences to her family during this difficult time. JANELLE (JAN) PEARL BERGER Janelle (Jan) Pearl Berger left her family and friends for her new Heavenly home early on Sunday morning, November 18, 2018. She died peacefully at her Stagecoach, TX home with her loving husband near her bedside. A devoted wife, stepmother and grandmother, Jan, 66, was born in Niagara Falls, NY. She was the second oldest of 8 children born to Joseph D. McDivitt and Bette McDivitt (Donachy). Her father was a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and a chemical operator at Hooker Chemical Company in Niagara Falls. Her mother was a decorated U.S. Army nurse who received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for service as a nurse on board the hospital ship Hope in the South Pacific near the end of World War II. Jan graduated from LaSalle Senior High School in Niagara Falls in 1970 and subsequently attended three years of college at Niagara University. She joined Moore Business Forms in Niagara Falls in the order processing department. She became an order processing technician and ultimately a modular order processing training instructor throughout Moore’s Midwestern operations. In 1982, Jan followed the love of her life, Bill Berger II, to Houston, TX where they were married in early 1983. Although not able to have children together, Bill and Jan raised 7 lovely children, the four youngest of who were adopted. Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Bette McDivitt, by her sister, Linda, by her twin brother, Jesse, by her brother, Mark McDivitt, by her sister-in-law, Sue McDivitt and by her nephew, Willy Frail. She is survived by her loving husband, Bill II, their daughter, Barbara, and her husband, Michael, son, Bill III, and his wife, Brenda, daughter, Brenda, and sons, Scott Sawers, Gary Berger, Will Maxwell and Shawn Berger and by 10 beautiful grandchildren: Tera, Ashlyn, Hannah, Audi, Faith, Scott, Willy, Joshua, William, and Perseus; and one expected great-grandchild (February, 2019). She is survived by her brothers, Rick, Joe and Gary McDivitt, and his wife, Hazel, and her sister, Susie Frail, and her husband, Chris. She is also survived by 5 brothers-in-law and their wives, numerous nephews and nieces, and by her very best friend, Linda Kienzle. Jan was known to all as a vibrant, energetic and strong-willed mother, grandmother and friend. In the many years prior to her increasing struggle with alcoholism, she reveled in family, Church and community gatherings, always having a role to play in helping every event to be the best of its kind. She was a catalyst in helping to organize Thanksgiving dinners at the Berger family home, as well as 4 of the 11 famed “Berger Family Reunions” in Valley City, ND and several of the annual St. Matthias Parish bazaars in the early 2000’s. Jan loved to travel, mostly to see family and friends throughout the U.S., but also internationally on Bill’s many overseas business trips in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Occasionally, Bill and Jan took private vacations of their own, their favorite being a 10-day 2001 camping and hiking trip to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and the Kananaskis Lakes in Alberta, Canada. In late 2017, they attended the Passionist Alumni Reunion in Louisville, KY, spending 10 days sightseeing in various states along the way. Jan will be missed mostly for her spirited love of family, friends and neighbors. Memories will remain forever in our hearts of the depths of her love for those closest to her, especially her husband who she called 2 to 3 times each day for most of their married life to tell him how much she loved him. May God hold you precious in his bosom until we are united again. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Visitation: Wednesday, November 28th 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm with memories of Jan at 7:00 pm and a rosary at 7:30 pm Magnolia Funeral Home, 811 South Magnolia Blvd., Magnolia, TX 77355 Funeral Mass: Thursday, November 29th 10:00 am St. Matthias Catholic Church, 302 South Magnolia Blvd., Magnolia, TX 77355 Rite of Committal: Thursday, November 29th 11:00 am Catholic Section of Magnolia Memorial Gardens Reception: Thursday, November 29th Immediately following the Rite of Committal St. Matthias Parish Hall, 302 South Magnolia Blvd., Magnolia, TX 77355 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jan’s memory to: Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center 430 Bunker Hill Road Houston, TX 77024-6308

Janelle Pearl Berger

November 10, 1952 - November 18, 2018