In Memory of Janice Victorick

Janice Victorick of Snook, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Visitation was Sunday, May 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell with Monsignor John McCaffery as officiant. Mass of Christian burial was Monday, May 31 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bryan. Internment followed at Oaklawn Cemetery in Somerville.

Janice was a special lady. She lived an ordinary life, although encountering many hardships. Her mother passed away when she was about three years old, and she was raised by her father with the help of Emmagene Sebesta, her aunt, who served as Grandma to Melissa and Ashley. Being a good mom was her number one priority. Janice was a very hard worker who was always willing to lend a helping hand. Never would she sit back and wait for someone else to start cleaning after any function, and most of the time. she would wind up in the kitchen washing all the pots, pans, and dishes. She loved to cook and was an excellent one. She especially enjoyed cooking great meals for her family and according to her granddaughter, Addison, no one could cook like her.

Janice spent a large portion of her life being a caretaker for family members – first was her dad, followed by Donnie’s dad after his mother passed away at an early age. Then, Donnie’s aunt became the next recipient of her love and caring. Her last venture was Aunt Emmagene (Grandma) for several years and especially after she had open heart surgery. Giving help was always Janice’s gift.

Janice retired from Texas A&M in January 2019 and spent her time doing many things at home. She was worried at first because she thought she would get bored because of her highly active life. She never let that happen and loved being able to travel with Donnie on trips for SPJST. She went to every lodge meeting with him, even when she was working full time. She loved meeting and talking to people and was never at a loss for words.

She will be missed by many, especially her family whom she loved dearly. She was the rock for Donnie and supported him in all facets of his career.

During Donnie’s coaching years, Janice was at every ball game. She took pride in caring for the boys and washed practice shirts every evening for the teams. She also made sure the players never had to wear soiled uniforms when playing in tournaments. Janice would gather their uniforms and go to the nearest laundromat to wash them while the team would go to eat. She loved all the players and treated them like her own sons. She would even doctor them if they got sick while in the playoffs. To many of the players she was known as “Mama V.” She loved doing the little things for people and never worried about taking credit for doing any of this.

Janice was one of a kind and loved her only granddaughter, Addison, dearly. There is a strong bond between them, and Mimi loved her “Pumpin.” Addison was the apple of her eye, just like Melissa and Ashley. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for any of them or the rest of her extended family. She made many, many trips between her house and Melissa’s and Ashley’s homes – almost always bringing meals to keep in the freezer so they wouldn’t have to cook. She continued that tradition by making sure Addison and her teammates had good food and brownies when playing in tournaments.

Helping, caring for, working, and cooking were the things she loved. Janice was a 51-year member of SPJST Lodge 9, Snook.

Janice is survived by husband Donnie Victorick; son Ashley Victorick of Cypress; daughter Melissa and husband Allen Brown of Friendswood; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Wallace and Janice Jahns of Cypress; brother-in-law David Victorick of Tomball; sister Luci Hurley of Bryan; granddaughter Addison Brown; nephews Bill Hurley and Steven Jahns (DeAnn), Logan Hurley, Trevor Hurley, Jarod Jahns, and Jason Jahns; nieces Donna Casey and husband Keith, Michelle Victorick, Megan Cathey (Chase), Claire Casey, Catherine Casey, Jamie Jahns, and Caitlyn Hurley; and a host of other relatives, friends, and church family.

She was preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Mary Albright; father-in-law and mother-in-law Steve and Vlasta Victorick; and special aunt and uncle Emmagene and Adolf C. Sebesta. We pray that she rests in peace in God’s care.

Serving as pallbearers were Keith Casey, Dex Dean, Dillon Dean, Bill Hurley, Logan Hurley, Steven Jahns, and Alan Noack. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Snook Basketball team from 1978-1991.

The family requests donations to the Donnie and Janice Victorick Scholarship Fund at SPJST, PO Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503 or online at www.spjst.org/programs/scholarships.