Obituary of Janice Gibbs

Janice Jarvis Gibbs (December 24, 1933-August 29, 2023) Janice “Jan” Jarvis Gibbs passed away on August 29 th , 2023, in Whiting, NJ, after a courageous battle with dementia. Janice was born on December 24, 1933, in Rochester, NY to Mary and Alfred Jarvis. Janice was the first in her family to attend college. She graduated from Alfred University in 1954. She had a passion for education and literacy and was an elementary school teacher, positively impacting the lives of the many children she taught. When she and her husband, Frederick Gibbs, moved with their family to Brazil, she learned Portuguese, and continued to teach English as a second language and worked to bring Sesame Street children’s programming to Brazil. She later served at the Pemberton library as the children’s librarian. Once she retired in Barnegat Light, NJ, she was active in the Long Beach Island community, volunteering at the St Francis of Assisi Center, the Barnegat Light Museum, the Rotary club, the Garden club, and the LBI library. Janice was an avid reader, and her library trips yielded countless stacks of books throughout the house. Her skills in cooking, home decoration and design, and hospitality would impress even Martha Stewart! She is survived by her three children Michael, Matthew, and Robyn, shared with Frederick Gibbs (divorced in 2005, and who predeceased her in 2022), along with her three grandchildren Mary, Sophie, and Elizabeth (Ellie), and her sister, Sandra Wilson. Janice was also the proud “second mom” to Andrew, Marla, and Jennifer Lopez. Janice valued family above all and supported her children through their life journeys. She kindly opened her heart and her home to many over the years and will be sorely missed by many more. A memorial service for Janice will be held in the coming months.