M. Janet Fleissner

M. Janet Fleissner

August 14, 1932 – November 7, 2020

Mary Janet Staudacher Fleissner (Janet), age 88, was born to Ernst and Elizabeth Staudacher in Omaha, Nebraska and lived in the same house almost her entire childhood.  She had two older sisters, Sr. Lisa Staudacher (age 93) and Georgia Ebel (age 91) and a baby sister, Clarice, who died at age 2.  She spent all her schooling at Saint Joseph’s, a block from home.  Mom enjoyed a wonderful childhood despite the fact it started during the Great Depression.  She had loving and faithful parents and had nothing but fond memories of those years.  Mom loved school and earned excellent grades.  She participated in cheerleading and enjoyed acting in school plays.  When she was a junior in high school, she met the love of her life, Robert Fleissner, to whom she was married 65 years.  She received a scholarship for college but chose to work instead.  When she was 19, Grandpa finally allowed her to marry.  Nine months later, baby number one was born until at age 36 she was the mother of 11.  She would remember these as very happy years.  When her two youngest were in high school, Mom went to work at Creighton University where she worked until she retired at 65.  In addition to her family, Mom enjoyed waterskiing until she was 55, square dancing, playing cards with her and Dad’s friends, and gardening.  In their retirement years, Mom and Dad traveled to their home in Arizona for the winter.

Some of Mom’s finest qualities are as follows:

-Love of the Lord.  Mom was Catholic to the core and instilled in her children a deep faith.  Sunday Mass was a must even when we went camping, and in her later years she attended daily Mass with Dad.  She encouraged us to see the best in others, love of your neighbor.  And we’ll never forget her frequent admonitions of “offer it up” and “all for Jesus”. Mom lived her faith daily.

-Uncomplaining.  We don’t remember Mom complaining about the circumstances of her life. Ever!  She was so accepting and realistic about whatever life brought her.  She truly was a woman of gratitude.

-Perseverant.  Mom had so many years of dirty diapers, washing clothes, cooking meals, stretching a dollar, all the challenges of raising children, and she hung in there with extraordinary patience and grace.  She was a consistently hard worker.

-Optimistic.  Mom just was not a worrier.  The last 20 years of her life, she had slow progressing Alzheimer’s.  About the disease she would say, “At least it doesn’t hurt”.  She really never expressed fear about her diagnosis but handled it with a matter-of-fact attitude knowing that God would provide.

Mom was a great teacher, teaching more by example than words.  Although we’ll miss her dearly, we’re grateful she’s surrounded by those she loves in heaven.

Preceded in death by husband, Bob Sr.; great-granddaughter, Adora Fleissner.  Survived by daughters: Clarice Murnan (Bob), Peg Fleissner, Judy Fleissner (John Damme), Joan Clark (Paul), Mary Pote (Kevin), and Deb Schoneweis-Wilson (Greg); sons: Bob Jr. (Jolene), Jim (Kay), Rich (Joan), Bill (Fiancee, Mary Peterman), and Buz; 34 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Sr. Lisa Staudacher, RSM and Georgia Ebel.

Due to Covid, there will be private family services. Memorials to Alzheimer’s Association.