Jana Tushingham

Jana Tushingham (nee Skaidrite Tatjana Zanders) born February 28, 1924 in Riga, Latvia, died February 1, 2025 at The Highlands at Brighton, Rochester, New York. Survived by daughters Ruth Tushingham (Donald D. Turk) and Elizabeth A. Guenther, Grandchildren Katie Stevenson (Christopher) and Michael Shade (Kimberly), Great-Grandchildren, Ellie Shade, Nate Shade, Maddie Stevenson, and Andy Stevenson. Also survived by Step-Grandchildren, Margi Resch (Brian), Brendon Turk (Amy) and Aaron Turk (Connie), Step-Great-Grandchildren, Landon Resch, Eddie Resch, Gavin Turk, Rorey Turk, Carson Turk and Kennedy Turk, all of whom she loved as her own. Predeceased by her parents Fricis and Milda Zanders, husband, John (Jack) Tushingham and son-in-law Timothy Guenther. Also survived by her “adopted” family, the Schedlers, in Austria, the extended Tushingham family in England, Ralph and Celeste Shade, and many other friends, near and far.

Jana, along with her parents, fled Latvia during World War II, outrunning the Germans and the Russians, and were transported as refugees to Austria where she and her parents became fast friends with the Schedler family, with whom she kept in close contact all her life. She met and married British Army Sgt. John (Jack) Tushingham February 1, 1947 in Klagenfurt, Austria, where he was stationed with the British Army . They lived in Liverpool, England for several years before emigrating to the United States in the early 1950s, following her parents who were sponsored by Reformation Lutheran Church as part of the refugee resettlement after WWII. She and Jack were life-long members of Reformation and made many friends there. She and Jack became American citizens in 1957 and raised their two daughters in Rochester, New York.

She lived the last 23 years of her life with Ruth and Don and enjoyed the family gatherings with all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who knew her as GG and the “money tree”. She always had a $5.00 bill for any child (including the adult children) who stopped in to say hello. She was a multi-talented woman who spoke German like a native, had a knack for comic style drawing, and could do pretty much whatever she set her mind to. Her experiences as a refugee, her faith in God and her innate optimism enabled her to adapt to whatever life threw her way. She loved and was loved by many. Many thanks to the staff at The Highlands at Brighton, Unit C, for their tender, loving care of Jana in her last months. You were all “so beautiful” and her “favorite”.

A memorial/celebration of her life will take place Saturday, June 14, 2025, 1:00 p.m. at the Thomas X. Grasso Erie Canal Lodge in Greece Canal Park.  All are welcome to celebrate her life.