Janet Marie Tucker

April 4, 1956 ~ September 8, 2023

"A Natural Woman"

Allow me to share a story about a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, grandmother, and a true friend. An uncomplicated Natural Woman.

This story begins on a Wednesday in the early spring of 1956 in Denver, Colorado. My mother, Eliza, and father, Rubin Dunn, were expecting their first child, me. In those days, they could not predict if it would be a boy or a girl child. Yet my parents, their parents, and our entire family prayed for a healthy child. Upon making my grand appearance on April 4th, my parents named me Janet. I always wondered why they gave me such a name, and then I was told the meaning of my name signified precisely how they felt at the time of my birth; my name means "God is gracious or a gift from God." Being born in the spring when everything is brand new, the colors are vibrant: the reds, yellows, and greens. This explains why I've always loved flowers and why my favorite color is red, the color of passion and happiness.

For three years, I was an only child. And then, my mother and father blessed us with my younger sister Colleen. Still, I was blessed with five sisters. Permit me to explain that six young ladies hung together growing up, and we were more than friends, we were like sisters Charlotte, Kim, Mikki, Ajuanya, and Sheila. We have known each other over 50 years. We counted on one another through our good times and our bad times. Wow, this was so wonderful. Now I have six sisters, friends to the end through thick and thin.

My education began at Annunciation Catholic School in Denver. Lake Junior High in Jeffco County city of Littleton. And graduated from Lincoln High School in Denver. I furthered my education at Concord Nursing School. I received my nursing degree and worked as a nurse's aide. I also did private care and worked at several nursing homes before retiring after 27 years from Kaiser Permanente.

I became a young mother; I understood the joy of parenthood when my daughter Tonya was born. She changed my life forever. She was such a beautiful child, and yes, my six sisters were right there with me as we grew up together. Later, I married a man I loved dearly Dwan Tucker and to this union we had our son LaDwan Tucker. And right when I didn't think life could improve, I had three wonderful grandchildren Amna Abdalla, Micah Dobson and Kataya Tucker. Life is great!

Dancing was one of my favorite things; I love attending concerts, throwing parties and having a good time. Some say I am a good cook, yet I grew tired of cooking. But I still loved to eat. Annually, we would attend the Winter Park Jazz Festival. I passed my time by playing bingo, lotto and going to the casinos. I also enjoyed watching the Broncos and the Nuggets and going to the games.

Growing up I knew Christ at a young age. Our mother gave Colleen and I the choice of whether we wanted to be Catholic or Baptist. Early on, as you can imagine, we were Catholic, and later joined the Union Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Pastor John T. Walker. Moreover, I had a private baptism and accepted Christ under the leadership of Dr. Pastor Henry Miles Jr. at the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. I later joined Divine Reflection Christian Church under the leadership of Pastor's Michael and Deanna Gonzales.

As the majestic river flows and water runs, the sun sets high in the summer sky, and the music plays a favorite tune. I crossed over on Friday, September 8th, 2023. And to my delight, there to greet me was Jesus, my grandparents, my parents, Eliza and Rubin Dunn, my baby boy LaDwan Tucker and his daughter Kataya LaShawn Tucker.

Nevertheless, my life will reverberate through those who will cherish my memory. Daughter Tonya (Everrett) Dobson, Grandchildren Amna Abdalla and Micah Dobson. Sister Colleen (Stephen) Price.  My niece Tasha (Chima) Lazarus. My nephew Quincy Williams and Bonus Sisters Charlotte James, Kim Johnson, Mikki Patterson, Ajuanya Washington and Sheila Mingo. My Kaiser Doctors and Co-workers.  Plus, a host of other relatives and friends.

"A Million Times"

A million times we'll miss you, A million times we'll cry.

If LOVE alone could have saved you, you never would have died.

In life, we LOVED you dearly; in death, we LOVE you still.

In our Hearts, you hold a place no one can fill.

It broke our Hearts to lose you, yet you didn't die alone.

For a part of us went with you the day GOD called you home!