Janice Donaldson's Obituary
Janice Ann Rider Donaldson was born in Corydon, IA, October 22, 1937. She passed in Oneonta, NY, at the A. O. Fox Nursing Home on April 13, 2026, with her daughter by her side. Born to John Wilbur Rider and Clara Evelyn (Smith) Rider, Janice was a younger sister to John Harry Rider. She attended Corydon High School where she was a member of 4H, played euphonium in the high school band, and graduated in 1955. Janice attended Iowa State University, majoring in home economics, and graduated in 1959. She married Jack Joe Donaldson of Promise City, IA, and they moved to Chicago, IL. In 1960 they had a daughter Cynthia Ann (Cindy) and in 1963, a son Jack Joe (Jackie). They lived in Aurora, IL, Edison, NJ, Piscataway, NY, and ended up in Fairport, NY. Janice was a loving mother and homemaker for many years and, while living in Fairport, made many life-long friends. In 1977, she began work on her master's degree in special education at Nazareth College (Rochester, NY). After earning that degree, she began teaching Home and Consumer Sciences at Fairport High School. Janice taught for 20 plus years, retiring in 2000.
Janice moved back to Corydon to be near family and became head librarian of the Genealogy Department at the Prairie Trails Museum, taking over from her second-grade teacher, Miss West. She enjoyed working with many volunteers and helping people find out bits of information about their families and happenings in the area. She was a 60-plus-year member of PEO BR Chapter in Corydon and attended PEO meetings in Oneonta, NY.
Janice loved traveling with her brother John and wife Sandra of Corydon, having visited Italy, Switzerland, and Alaska. She traveled to see her daughter perform shows in Reno, NV, West Palm Beach, FL, Des Moines, IA, and in Rochester, NY. She loved attending live theatrical and concert performances often involving her daughter as performer or conductor. She was a fabulous audience member!
In 2020, Janice moved to Oneonta to be closer to her daughter Cindy. She lived at The Plains Assisted Living for two years, and then moved to the A.O. Fox Nursing Home. She amused many of the staff and caregivers by enjoying college and professional football, college basketball, and the occasional NASCAR race.
Janice sang with the Methodist Church choir in Corydon and, when in Oneonta, with the First Presbyterian Church choir led by her daughter.
Janice was a courageous traveler! For ten years, she drove solo from Corydon to Oneonta and back for the holidays to see Cindy and all of her friends in the area. She was a lovely, caring woman whose quiet sense of strength and dignity made her a favorite of many.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents John Wilbur and Clara Evelyn, aunt Erma Smith Latham, brother John Harry, and beloved son Jackie. She is survived by her daughter Cynthia of Otego, NY, her sister-in-law LaGreta Sandra Rider of Corydon, nephews Johnny Rider of Corydon, nephew Todd and Dian (Darrah) Rider of Overland Park, KS, and Missy (Rider) and Gary Lain of Corydon.
Funeral Services for Janice will be held at Thomas Funeral Home in Corydon, IA on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 11:00 AM with burial to immediately follow at the Corydon Cemetery. Visitation will be held an hour prior from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Memorials and donations in honor of Janice can be directed to the Prairie Trails Museum and mailed to Thomas Funeral Home Attn: Donaldson Family 303 E. Jefferson St., Corydon, IA 50060.
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