Longtime Sedro-Woolley resident Annie Janicki passed away peacefully at her home on September 17, 2013 surrounded by her family. She was 83 years of age.
Annie was born on March 27, 1930 in Bellevue, WA to Lebanese immigrants Rose and William Michael. She attended Seattle University where she met her husband Stanley Janicki, Jr. As the first woman at the college to graduate with an accounting degree, she modeled the way for other women.
In 1955, Annie and Stan moved to Skagit County where they raised their family, built their house and founded Janicki Logging Company.
Annie remained actively involved in the family companies, Janicki Logging and Construction, and Janicki Industries, as a board member and finance advisor. Her passion for open, direct and constructive communication, and her abiding honesty, informed the culture of her family and their business dealings.
She loved gardening and continually added to the landscape around her home on the Garden of Eden Road. Annie was a kind and generous spirit who extended hospitality and encouragement to all. She and her husband Stan helped make possible Sedro-Woolley’s Riverfront Park, Janicki Fields, and the Saint Joseph Center. As a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, she drew strength from her faith. Donations may be made in her memory to Friendship House or the Immaculate Conception Regional School.
Annie is survived by her seven children and their spouses, Jeanne & Jim Gross, Mary & Kevin McGoffin, Mike & Lisa Janicki, John & Katy Janicki, Rob & Kara Janicki, Peter & Susan Janicki and Sarah and Kyle Rutherford; 28 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren and her sister, Marion Janicki.
She was preceded in death by her husband Stan, her son Joseph, grandson Nathan, and brother William Michael.
A Vigil will be held on Friday, September 20, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Sedro-Woolley. The Funeral Mass will be held at the Saint Joseph Center, 215 N. 15th Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Martin Bourke Celebrant. Private graveside services will be at Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery. A time of visitation will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley.
Annie’s spirit and compassion for others knew no limits. Growing up in Sedro Woolley, I recall many instances of generous support for the Parish and the community. She always had a smile and a kind word for others. Thank You Annie for honoring my mom with a gift in her memory. You are a special angel.
Im sorry to hear about your loss,may God Bless the entire Janicki family.Anne will be dearly missed I know.So sorry im late but I just read about this.God Bless
Our prayers our with you all,Paul Nelson and family
We are so sorry for the loss of your beautiful mother. Thoughts and prayers are with your family. With love, Greg and Joelle Hoff
I attended Annie’s service with my wife Roxanne and daughter Alexandra Michael. It was a very nice service.. I just saw Annie at Costco with Lisa. So very sorry for your loss. I just lost my Mom and Annie was there for us. She was a great lady.
Annie, I will miss you at the greenhouse. We always seem to find something interesting to talk about, so enjoyed trying to find the plant or color that you didn’t have in your yard, was always a challenge I looked forward to. When the peonies bloom in spring I will think of you. I will continue to look for that perfect yellow one to add to the collection. To Annie’s family your mom was one of a kind and I will miss her.
Annie was one of my mother’s closest and dearest friends from the moment they met as young wives and mothers; new to Sedro Woolley, until my mother’s death in 1998. Annie made Mom think as well as laugh out loud. When my mother was dying of cancer, Annie brought joy, laughter and warmth into the room. And then took me under her ‘wing’ as I learned to live without Mom. There was no one like my Mom, Alice. And there is no one like Annie. They broke the mold. To the Janicki family…your mother was a treasure and I will miss her. Nancy
What a wonderfully full life Annie Janicki has led. I share a birthday with her, but her impactful and life is hard to duplicate. Annie’s amazing service to the Sedro-Woolley community is more than honorable and will always be remembered. My thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the entire family and endless friends.
Someone once said that the six essential qualities to a successful life are: sincerity, personal integrity, humilty, courtesy, wisdom and charity. Annie Janicki certainly had an extraordinarly successful life. What a very significant and important legacy she leaves for all of us. My prayers are with the Janicki family.
Aunt Annie was an amazing strong woman – the kindness and goodness everyone experienced just being in her presence lifted all who were fortunate enough to spend time with her…she will be missed!!! I have such happy memories of Annie – visits to her house as a child were eagerly looked forward to with great excitement!
I am very sorry for you mothers death
I knew Annie when we worked together at Sedro Woolley
building the center and other projects
and I know she will be truly missed by a lot of people
As an employee at Thompson’s Greenhouse, I became acquainted with Annie through her visits to the nursery. She was always very interested in what was being offered for sale and you could tell that she loved gardening. It was a pleasure to wait on her and she will be missed.
After my freshman year at the University of Washington I was in the Janicki living room talking to Stan about where he was going to have me work that summer. ” Andy” he began,” we are going to have you up in the woods on the high-lead crew.” Annie came marching out of the kitchen and said ” Stanley, that boy is going to college and he is not going on the high-lead crew! Put him on the road crew.” She then turner around and retuned to the kitchen. Stan, without missing a beat, continued “As I was saying Andy we are going to put you on the road crew.”
Annie’s warmth and smile were so welcoming. She was a truly special person who made people feel loved. I will miss seeing her and my heart goes out to all of her family for their loss. She was a shining star!
In behalf of my mother; Julia Scripture, and the Scripture family, we humbly offer all our prayers and love to the family of Annie Janicki – my mother’s beloved sister-in-law.
Annie loved children so very much! In 2010 she told me how dissatisfied she was with the Skagit County Council for cutting the budget for lifeguards at Clear Lake Beach Park. That was her next project she said, to restore funding to the park at the expense of special interests, that in her mind, were trumped in favor of the children’s safety. She said those County Commissioners really had their priorities mixed up!
But Annie considered our community to be her family just as well. All of us became accustomed to her special ability – to turn genuine concern into action and results. These traits continue to live on in those lives that Annie touched.
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Annie. I very much appreciated her friendship when I moved to Sedro-Woolley and through the later years. I have admired her for what she accomplished and her generosity to the community and church. I also admired her “spunk” as she took on the establishment. She was a role model to me and I can only hope that some day I can emulate her in the Sedro-Woolley and Skagit communities through reaching out to others. Her legacy will continue to live on through her family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Heaven has “our” Annie…she will be loved, respected and remembered for her sweetness, humor, kindness to all, and her dedication to our community. Thoughts and prayers for the Janicki family and thank you for sharing your Mom with all of us!!!
Annie was our neighbor. When my mother passed away, she sent a donation in my mother’s name to Hospice. We shall always remember Annie for her generosity of spirit, her abiding strength and wisdom.
A Pillar in our community. A great loss to Sedro-Woolley
Your Mother was a wonderful and gracious person. I am glad I had a chance to meet her. Thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Our prayers are with your family. Your mother was a beautiful, lovely and gracious woman and she will be missed. Her generous spirit in this community will never be forgotten.
Annie was the best. I joined the wonderful Michael Family by marrying Paul in 1975 so I have known Annie a long time. She even attended Marjorie Michael’s funeral service this year. How can she be gone? She was such a guiding spirit for us all. She was wonderful. Always there for the greater family. So sorry everyone. Rox
Annie was so special to us. She helped us in many ways. You could always count on her for a kind word and gentle scolding if needed. I will always cherish my childhood with my mom and Annie. Spent many a day up at the pool with all my cousins and family. She was by far the most gentle, generous and caring person I have ever met. Our community will not be the same without her.
I loved her dearly and will miss her so much!
Thoughts and Prayers to my cousins and all who loved her. RIP Auntie Annie! Love you always! Tina Shields, Eli Sutton and Tom Shields
Having recently lost my Dad I understand the grief associated with losing a parent. Please except my deepest sympathy during this difficult time. The Janicki family in my thoughts and prayers.
During recent gatherings of family and friends, we’ve missed seeing Annie’s bright smile and spirit. Ron and I are very sorry for the family to lose your loving Mother and Grandmother, who was a shining beacon for all of you and the community.