Janis Jean Hoy

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Janis J Hoy on August 18, 2025. Beloved mother and grandmother, she will be dearly missed. Her kind and gentle nature, laughter, wit, and intelligence left a positive impact on anyone that was blessed to be a part of her life. She was 89.

Janis was born in Fargo, ND in 1936 and was the youngest of four children (Celeste, John, Lois Ann). Her parents (Paul and Julia Heinz), grandparents, and extended family were evenly divided between the small-town farming communities of Alice, ND and Albany, MN. Eventually her family settled in Minnesota, and she was raised on a dairy farm.

Janis was especially close to her sister Lois (born one year apart), so close that as children they were often mistaken as twins. She remembers her childhood favorably but also that life on a dairy farm was hard work. Janis was a good student and the valedictorian of her high school class. She went on to attend St Bennedict University in nearby St Cloud, MN. At “St Ben’s” she made several lifelong friends and with her roommate Mary, they decided to adventure to Washington, DC after graduation. Janis earned a master’s degree from the University of Maryland and began her career as an elementary school teacher.

During this time Janis also met Edward (Bud) Hoy, they eventually married and had a son (Robert). Bud passed away in 1976, leaving her a widow with a young son (8). Facing responsibility alone, Janis made many sacrifices, and it never affected her humor or joy for life. She worked many part-time jobs and eventually settled her career at the Department of Defense where she spent the next 35 years as a financial analyst.

The joy of her life was her son Robert and her grandchildren, Nicholas and Julia. She loved spending time with her family; she was a daily presence in their lives. Janis never missed an event and was a fixture at sporting events, school plays, and was frequently spotted bringing her grandchildren snacks or forgotten backpacks.

The family gathered every Sunday for church and family dinner. This was a great time for everyone to be together to play board games, card games (a family favorite “kings in the corner”), watch movies, and celebrate “special days” and usually in silly ways. At the end of the evening, and after dinner, Janis would announce “well I hate to eat and run” which was always received with a laugh.

Janis joined her family on many trips including to Minnesota for family reunions, the State Fair, “the cabin”, ski trips, beach trips, and a family favorite extended vacation across the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming where they visited both the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Park.

Outside of work, Janis had many friends and interests. Janis was active in church organizations, played both bridge and pinochle, volunteered at Wolf Trap Center for the Arts and The Kennedy

Center (40 years each), and traveled around the world with her brother (John) and sister in-law (Marge). A partial list of countries they visited include India, Nepal, Egypt, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Israel, Japan, China, Russia, Australia, Sweeden, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Ireland, Great Brittan, Brazil, Peru, Canada, and Mexico. During her travels she also attended two Olympics (Banff & Lilihammer).

Janis is survived by her son Robert, his wife Heather, granddaughter Julia, step granddaughter Mariah, and step grandson Conner. Janis made our lives better and will be greatly missed. We are comforted knowing that we will one day be reunited in heaven with both her and Nick.