Jan (Knight) Griffone, passed away on September 16, 2010 after a Herculean 21 month fight with cancer. She was born on February 11, 1941 in Neotsu, Oregon the oldest child of Bill & Elberta Knight. Her father was a dairyman & logger and her mother stayed home to raise Jan and her two younger brothers.
Jan & Al had a wonderful life together and were married for 35 years.
Jan had the astonishing gift of hospitality and loved to cook wonderful vegetarian meals for large gatherings at her home. She always opened her home to family & friends.
She had a passion for church building and helped to raise and finance many projects through Seniors in Action for God with Excellence (SAGE), in Africa and Central & South America. She was also a remarkable business woman having owned and operated assisted living facilities and a hyperbaric oxygen therapy center.
As a wife she was exciting, loving, passionate and a gift from God. She was the greatest mother, auntie, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Jan is survived by her husband, Al Griffone of Arlington, WA. Her brother, Jack Knight of Republic, WA and her sister, Marilyn Talbott of Vancouver, WA. Her children, Cary Keeney of Pocatello, Idaho, Kraig Keeney of Riverside, CA, Jeffrey Keeney of Arlington, WA, Hodge Griffone of Pinehurst, NC and Rico Griffone of Poughkeepsie, NY. A favorite niece, Peggy Prahl of Battle Ground, WA; numerous grandchildren & one great-grandchild.
In lieu of flowers memorials in Jan’s memory are suggested to SAGE – Jan Griffone, Washington SDA Conference, 3229 Weyerhaeuser Way South, Federal Way, WA 98001.
A Life Celebration Service for Jan will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 3:00 PM at the North Cascade Seventh-day Adventist Church, 800 Peacock Lane, Burlington, WA. Arrangements are under direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
Dear Al, I am truly sorry to hear about Jan’s passing. I share in your sorrow and my sympathies go out to all of the Griffone, Keeney, and Knight families. Hopefully we will all meet again some day. Regards Red
Hello Al—Jeannie & I just want to attempt to express our deepest sympathies over your loss of Jan. She was indeed a shinning star among us. Her radiant smile and the twinkle in her eyes will forever be imprinted in our memory. She was one sweet lady and we know you especially along with the rest of us can hardly wait until Jesus returns and blows that silver trumpet when Jan and all the rest of the redeemed will be resurected and given new and whole bodies and sin and disease will forever be a thing of the past. May God in His love bless and comfort you as only He can in the days ahead.
In Christ’s love, Gene & Jeannie
We have many memories of our times spent together. Our hearts are sad knowing that Jan isn’t with us anymore. But now she’s sleeping in Jesus and the next thing she will hear is the trumpet call when he returns to take us home with Him.
Ours prayers are with you Al and with the rest of Jan’s family.
Our love,
Evelyn and Gerry
Dear Friend Al,,, our hearts and prayers are with you. We were shocked and very saddened to hear about lovely Jan. You had a gift from the Father in Jan just as I do in my Willa. I sincerely hope you will continue the good work that Jan started in you. Keep the faith and you WILL see her again brother Al. Try and stay in touch with us. Phone is 360-686-3085 and our address is still the same 33716 N.E. Kelly Rd., Yacolt, Wa., 98675.
Please don’t fret yourself too much old man,things happen to the nicest people , and only the Lord Himself can give you the answers,,,they are for lessons and humility,,, bless your broken heart. We really would love to hear from you again,,,and never forget ,,our door is always open especially the one to our hearts,,, We STILL love you brother ,,,,In Christ’s love Br., Dutch and Sister Willa.
Deal Al and family,
My deepest sympathies are with you and your family on the passing of dear Jan. It was a privilege for me to travel with you and Jan in Peru in 2005. It was clear she was a woman dedicated to a cause, and I am blessed to have spent that time getting to know her (and you) and to lend a hand as best I could to the cause.
With kindest regards,
Tom Anderson
Dear Al and family,
It was with great sorrow that I read of Jan’s passing. It truly was a valiant fight and I will miss Jan’s smiling face and kind words just as you will. What a wonderful person with such high regard for the well being of others. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all in this most difficult of times. How lucky we are that our faith and trust in God allows us to know that Jan is safe in his care and some day we will join her.
I regret that I will not be able to attend on Saturday, but know that I will be thinking of you.
With best regards,
Rich
Hi Al:
How deeply our hearts ache for you and the most difficult time you and Jan must have gone through during these past couple years! We are so sorry for your loss!! At the same time we are so grateful for the hope that you have of resurrection morning and the joy you will have and we all will have of being reunited again! We would so much like to come to the memorial service for Jan, but we are scheduled to be out of the area next weekend. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you now and in the weeks and months to come! Hang on tight to God, He will see you through!! Love, Claudia & Rolland