Janelle "Jane" (Ball) Farvour Obituary (1970 - 2021)

It is with great sadness and loss that we announce the passing of our daughter, sister, friend, teacher, and scores of other roles Janelle "Jane" Farvour (nee Ball) of Sitka, Alaska; Lakewood, WA; and Walla Walla, WA. Born to Frank and Norma Ball on May Day, 1970 in Longview, WA., she was the first granddaughter born in many generations. She attended gifted and vocational coursework through the Walla Walla School District and set her sights on a career as a brain surgeon. "But Dad," she insisted, "I can save a mind as a skilled surgeon. But as a schoolteacher, I can change a mind." Janelle turned out to be a gifted educator, and among her many roles nowhere was she in her element more than in a classroom. So, in 1995, she traveled to Alaska to complete her student teaching and begin living the Alaskan lifestyle. Janelle embraced Alaska, from fishing in Bristol Bay and enjoying the harvest of king salmon, halibut, sockeye and coho, to coaxing a garden out of the soggy soils of Southeast, she thrived in her chosen hometown of Sitka. She was fearless on land and sea. Janelle's love for animals was widely known, and she donated her time and other resources towards their well-being. She devoted her free time to her pug dogs, accommodating their various health needs over the years, including wheels for her beloved Chimp. She was also a talented aquarist, elevating a variety of freshwater flora and fauna from hobby tanks to habitats of incredible beauty. Janelle's devotion to the living things in her care was unwavering. Her home was like a lush jungle, with orchids and other plants filling the spaces between aquaria, altogether forming a spectacular, living tribute to Janelle's talents and love for life. Her biome was her sanctuary. A disco queen and trivia master, Janelle enjoyed deep relationships with a broad cross section of Sitka: from her gym buddies to her teaching colleagues to friends she made in her other pursuits, Janelle touched all with her "angel work." Janelle pursued beauty in all things. While working in a downtown shop one recent summer she took great care to develop detailed displays that brought life to the shop. Her immense creativity showed in all that she undertook: Blatchley Middle School colleagues fondly remember the many holiday renditions of her mailbox in the staff room. From Chinese New Year to Valentine's Day, her decorated mailbox brought delight to all. Janelle's artwork and impeccable taste were deeply admired by her friends and in her family circle. Janelle's greatest sense of achievement derived from the successes of her students, and later, their children. She was immensely proud to have touched the lives of two generations of Sitkans. In 2019, Janelle was honored during a Solstice Ceremony by the Kog'wan'taan Clan and given the nickname Shax'an, meaning redhead. She considered it one of her greatest honors. She participated in their cultural collection of Alaskan Native herring roe season, providing the elders with herring on kelp, and herring cooking roe on Spruce trees. Once again, taking to the sea to make sure the elders were provided their traditional food collected in traditional ways. She leaves behind two beloved pug dogs, her immediate family, consisting of her father Frank, his new wife Loretta, a brother, Chris, his wife Kathe, her two nieces, and her beloved sister, Andrea. Numerous friends will also be deeply grieved by her passing - neither they, nor Janelle, were ready to say good-bye. Janelle urges preventative colonoscopy as colon cancer has become the second fastest growing cancer in young people.