Janice Brandal

On Friday, May 19, 2023, Janice C. Brandal, loving wife and mother of two, passed away at age 80.

Janice was born February 4, 1943, in Washington, D.C to Robert and Edith (Lindberg) Gustafson. Janice and her parents moved to Bellevue, Washington in 1950 where her father built their family home. Janice attended University of Washington and graduated in 1965 with a B.A. in English and a teaching certificate. While at U.W. Janice met the love of her life, Willy Brandal, at a party held at the Seattle Space Needle. They married on June 18, 1966, at Grace Lutheran Church in Bellevue.

In 1967, Janice and Willy moved to Evanston so Willy could attend graduate school. They then moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where they adopted their daughter, Amy in 1975. The family then moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where Evan was adopted in 1979. Just after Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, the family moved to Moscow, Idaho. Janice and Willy loved the little town of Moscow and decided this is where they wanted to stay and raise their family. Janice spent many years as a stay-at-home mom and taught piano lessons to some of the neighborhood children. She then decided to go back to school to obtain a RN certificate from LCSC in Lewiston. She worked until retirement for Gritman Medical Center in Moscow as a med/surg nurse. She was loved by her co-workers, patients and their families.

Janice had many friends and belonged to many community, social and church groups. She enjoyed skiing, playing bridge and mahjong, attending book clubs, belonging to PEO a women’s organization, attending community music events, fundraising and charity events and her church, Emmanuel Lutheran. As much as she loved Moscow, she also loved to travel. She (and Willy) made several road tips to nearby Canada and the Western U.S. She also enjoyed international travel and made several trips to Australia, Denmark, Italy, and to Sweden, Spain, France, Greece, Peru, Nicaragua, Chile and China.

While on one of those trips, Janice noticed that she had difficulty breathing at high elevations. She spoke with doctors and was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. She was given the gift of a new lung on May 17, 2013. It was a gift that allowed her to have 10 additional years with her family and friends.

Janice was preceded in death by her father, Robert, and her mother, Edith and her brother, Bruce. She is survived by her husband, Willy, her children Evan (Lisa) and Amy (Sean). Grandchildren (Ryan, Cady,  Seana, Eli, Aidan and Jacob) as well as great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 3rd at 11am at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Moscow, Idaho. Immediately following, a reception will be held at Best Western Plus University Inn, Silver Room in Moscow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center or the Auditorium Chamber Music Series.

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