Janice Lee Osborne

Janice Lee Osborne, 74, went to be with her Heavenly Father at 11:50 a.m., on April 17, 2015, at Northridge Hospital, CA surrounded by her husband and children.

Janice was born in Glendale, CA on November 18, 1940 to Lee and Doris Bolen. She grew up in Burbank where she learned to sing, dance and play the piano. She was an enthusiastic student at John Burroughs High School in Burbank where she sang, G.F. Handel’s, ”Messiah” in her high school choir and graduated in 1959. She loved to meet with former classmates at the local Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant, and continued to do so until no longer able due to her gradual decline in health.

After high school she attended classes at Glendale Community College and pursued her hobbies which included sewing, ballroom and square dancing, playing the piano, and singing a cappella. After college, Janice worked for Traveler’s Insurance in the San Fernando Valley as a Claims Adjuster for 8 years. Janice’s love of music brought her to the Palomino Club of North Hollywood, then Country Music's best-known, Los Angeles area music venue. There she met the love of her life, Dexter Osborne. They were regular attenders of the country club during their romantic courtship and were once surprised by Johnny Cash’s impromptu performance, “The Legend of John Henry’s Hammer”.

Janice married Dexter Osborne on Dec. 26, 1964 at Montecito Presbyterian Church in Santa Barbara, CA. After their wedding, she continued to work for Traveler’s Insurance in the San Fernando Valley, until the birth of her first child, Jeffrey, in 1968. Janice was a devoted mother, and at that time decided to stay home to care for her newborn versus returning to work. The birth of her second son, Derek, followed in 1970, after which the young family moved to Quartz Hill, CA where Dexter designed and built their Ranch/Craftsman style custom home. Their daughter, Melanie, came shortly thereafter and was born in Quartz Hill in1973.

Throughout her years in Quartz Hill, Janice was a member of Leona Valley Community Church and later Quartz Hill Baptist Church. She enjoyed sewing clothes for her three children and designing costumes for her performances with the Sweet Adeline’s, a nationwide women’s singing organization. While still actively singing, she performed in a National Competition in Las Vegas with the Sweet Adeline’s San Fernando Valley Chapter during the late 1980’s. She also enjoyed square dancing and other popular dances of the1960’s and 70’s, and many enjoyed hearing her play her favorite piano piece, Beethoven’s, “Moonlight Sonata”.

Being devoted to her husband and children was very important to Janice. She strove to ensure her household and family upbringing were the best possible, and was devoted to making sure her children grew to be strong responsible adults with good Christian morals.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Doris Bolen; her sister, Bonnie Zirpoli; and grandson, Connor Berry.

Janice is survived by her husband, Dexter Osborne of Quartz Hill; her sons, Jeff Osborne of North Hollywood, CA; Derek Osborne and his wife, Carolyn of Malibu, CA; her daughter, Melanie Berry and her husband, Jon of Olympia, WA; sister, Bette Wildish of Burbank, CA; sister, Norma Latshaw and her husband, Steve of West Hills, CA; and grandchildren, Cody, Kyle and Cierra Osborne, and Collin and Corbin Berry.

A graveside service will be held at Oakwood Memorial Park, 22601 Lassen Street, Chatsworth, CA. at 10am, April 23rd. Burial will immediately follow the service.

Janice will be greatly missed by many, but is now free from pain and suffering, and called up to join in singing with the choir of angels in Heaven.

You are encouraged to share your memories of Janice here. Please use the comment section to add your own personal remembrances.

Thank you!