By james art
Janet Leavitt (Zavella)
OBITUARY
Janet Lucille Leavitt (formerly Zavella, nee Barton), 82, of San Bernardino, California, passed away peacefully at home on October 8, 2024. She was born August 9, 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of the late Dorothy and Eddie Barton. She was the beloved mother of Yvonne Brinton (Michael) of San Bernardino; April Aubrey Zavela (Lester Aubrey) of San Bernardino; Vance Zavella (Gene Schiro-Zavella) of McLean, Virginia; and Lance Zavella (Anne) of Burbank, CA. She is also survived by her brother, Arthur Barton of Cary, NC; eight grandchildren; and four great-granddaughters. She was predeceased by her brother Edward Barton and sister Beverly Hammer. While raising four children, she earned a degree in nursing from San Bernardino Valley College in 1972. She worked as a licensed practical nurse at San Bernardino Community Hospital and St. Bernardine’s Hospital in San Bernardino, and then Redington-Fairview Hospital and Cedar Ridge Center in Skowhegan, Maine. Jan enjoyed drawing and painting, as well as playing horse and Dodgers baseball. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian (PO Box 23473, Washington, DC 20026-3473), Desert Botanical Garden (1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008) or a charity of the donor’s choice.