Jan Nordick

Memorial Mass for 80 year old Jan Nordick were held Dec. 14, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, in Rosen, Minn., with Father Jack Nordick and Deacon Paul Trienen officiating. Special music was provided by Jen Wittnebel, organist. Urn bearers was Paul Zahrbock. The concluding service and burial was in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.

Jan (Jeanette) Nordick was born on Oct. 23, 1942, in Ortonville, Minn. She attended St. Joseph parochial school in Rosen, where she vied for honors with her cousin, Marlys Schmieg.

After eighth grade, she attended Mount St. Benedict Academy in Crookston, graduating in 1960. After high school she surprised many by joining the Benedictine community in Crookston. After concluding an educational program at Corbett college in Crookston, she taught elementary grades at various parochial schools in northern Minnesota. Upon choosing to leave the community, she attended Mankato State University where she earned a B.A. in special education/speech therapy. She plied her trade for many years in school districts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Canby, Minn.

After a bout with breast cancer, she retired to the lake in Ortonville. There she occupied her time with growing flowers, chasing deer, and collecting lawn ornaments, especially anything related to frogs and chickens. She also revealed herself to be a dedicated hoarder as those of us who helped to clean out her house soon discovered. That can serve as a lesson for those of us with similar instincts. After three more incidents of cancer she moved to Fairway View neighborhoods in Ortonville where she soon after died on Dec. 2 from the ravages of bone cancer.

She is survived by two brothers, Ron of Ortonville, Minn., and Jack of rural Rosen, Minn.

Blessed be her memory.

Arrangements by the Zahrbock Funeral Home, Madison, MN, zahrbockfuneralhome.com.