Obituaries

Janice was born and raised in Niles and lived in Fremont for 95 yrs. before moving to The Palms Assisted Living in La Quinta, Ca. to be near her daughter and son-in-law. Janice was born February 8, 1927 to Arthur and Angie Roderick in Niles, Ca. She was the granddaughter of Joseph Roderick, Constable of Alameda County, Ca. during the Essanay silent film era in Niles. Janice grew up on Second St. in Niles and attended Niles Grammar School and Washington High School. As a teen, she was an usherette at the Niles Theatre before joining Friden, Inc. a calculating machine company in San Leandro at the age of 17. In 1948, she married the love of her life, Anthony “Tony” Bettencourt a local apricot grower and carpenter. They were married for 62 yrs. before Tony passed in 2010. Together, they ran the family business and produced dried apricots for Sunsweet Growers in San Jose for over thirty years. In 1956, their daughter, Susan was born. After “fruit season” the family packed their travel trailer and headed to various locations across the Western U.S. and Canada. Every trip was an adventure and a history lesson!

When Emporium-Capwell was built a few blocks from the family home in Fremont, Janice decided to join the workforce part-time. She enjoyed making new friends and becoming a member of the stores Acorn Social Club. After 20 yrs. in retail, she retired with a lifetime discount which was a goal she had hope to achieve.

Janice was a member of St. Theresa Ladies Guild and the Young Ladies Institute (YLI) associated with Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fremont. She enjoyed traveling with Tony to far away places like Brazil, Hawaii and Tahiti, but her favorite outings were church bus trips with friends to Reno and Lake Tahoe.

Janice passed away peacefully on July 9, 2024 surrounded by Susan, John and Pastor Don from Mission Hospice in Rancho Mirage. Loving Mother of Susan Everett (John), Nana to Megan Everett, Sister to Shirley Adams (Bob), Aunt to Daniel, Michael and Richard Adams and Adopted son, Thomas Everett.

A special intention Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 2nd, 8:30am at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 37891 Second St. in Fremont which is across from Janice’s childhood home. A private family entombment will take place at Irvington Memorial Cemetery in Fremont, Ca.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lupus Research Alliance or Lupus Foundation of Northern California.