Mary “Janet” Reisbig

Mary “Janet” Reisbig

February 19, 1944 – December 20, 2023

Mary “Janet” Reisbig was born on February 19, 1944, in Sioux City, IA, to Patricia and Robert Devoy. She passed away on December 20, 2023, after battling Lewy Body Dementia for several years.

Janet was a twin with her sister, Mary “Jean”, and the oldest of 7 children (Janet, Jean, Robert, Catherine, Patricia, Ann, Susan). She was born while her father was serving overseas in WWII and was unable to meet him until she was 3 years old.

Janet, Jean, and her mother lived with her grandmother in Bonesteel, SD, for the first few years of her life. Her family then moved from Sioux City to Omaha, and then from Omaha to O’Neill, where she did most of her schooling through high school at St. Mary’s. Her father was a pharmacist and owned the Rexall Drug Store in O’Neill.

Janet attended Duchesne Academy in Omaha for college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English. She spent a few years teaching elementary school students for Omaha Public Schools but then stayed at home when she had her first son, Mike, in 1970. She returned to teaching for Millard Public Schools when her youngest child, Julie, entered high school.

While attending Duchesne, Janet met her beloved husband, Dave, who was in pharmacy school at Creighton University. They married in 1968 and created a beautiful family with 5 children and 12 grandchildren. Janet was the most loving, caring, and committed wife to Dave, and she displayed an exemplary motherly love to her children and grandchildren.

Her children give Janet credit for their athletic abilities and competitive nature, which became evident during noodle ball competitions in her memory care unit at Pacific Springs. She was her children’s number one fan, putting countless miles on the family station wagon and then the conversion van taxiing kids to activities and being on the sideline of every game. Her dedication to their sports/activities was remarkable. She also served on the parent’s board and Bash committee at Creighton Prep and volunteered at many events at Marian High School as well.

She was a huge Cornhusker Football fan and always enjoyed going to games with her husband, twin sister, children, and good friends (especially when the Huskers were actually good). She loved everything Irish and was so proud of her Irish roots. Her travels to Ireland were one of the many highlights in her life. Her Irish eyes were always smiling.

Despite being an extremely busy mother, Janet was a wonderful friend. She was thoughtful, caring, compassionate, and always made time for a phone call or a gathering with those she held dear. She was so proud to be a Duchesne “Dolly” and stayed connected to her Duchesne friends throughout the years and was involved in the Children of Mary of the Sacred Heart.

Even near the end, while suffering with dementia, Janet found ways to display her big smile and giggle. Her laugh was so contagious and may even have gotten the whole family in trouble at church a few times.

Janet’s sincere kindness and genuine concern for others, especially her family, was nothing less than admirable. Despite the effects of dementia, she continued to tell her children to “’drive safely” and “call me when you get home, ok?”  Those words that had brought some annoyance in the past, were sacred and coveted at the end. Janet took her role as a mother, wife, and Nana VERY seriously. The unconditional love, the protection, the providing, and the patience are all qualities she embodied for which her family will forever be grateful and will miss immensely. Her departure from this life to be with God has left a big hole in everyone’s hearts.

We know that Janet is at peace now, surrounded by her loved ones that have gone before her, wrapped in the comfort and love of God (and hopefully, she is drinking a Pepsi, eating some sunflower seeds, and perhaps, even smoking a cigarette or two).

Janet is survived by her husband of 55 years, Dave; her children: Mike (Beth), Greg, Mark (Marianne), Katie (Brent), and Julie (Shawn); her adored 12 grandchildren: Maddie, Maggie, Diarmuid, Jack, Declan, Ava, Aoife, Connor, Emmy, Grace, Clodagh, and Brayden; and her treasured grand-pups: Willa, Molly, Bailey, Sandy, Piper, and Ollie. Janet was preceded in death by her parents, Patricia and Robert; her twin sister, Mary “Jean”; brother-in-law, Robert Bonge; several cousins and all of her aunts and uncles.

VISITATION: Friday, December 29th, 5pm Visitation and 7pm Rosary, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 15353 Pacific St., Omaha

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Saturday, December 30th, 10:00am, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.

INTERMENT: Resurrection Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, Memorials are suggested to Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart or the Nebraska Humane Society.