Obituary of Janis Lee Smith

Janis Lee (Pfister) Smith was born September 13, 1947 to John and Leah Pfister in Sheboygan, WI. She was the youngest of three children, brother John Wayne Pfister (1939-2006) and sister Barbara Kay (Pfister)DeCorte (1943-2009). In 1953 the Pfister clan packed up and moved west to sunny California when Janis was just 6 years old. Janis and her siblings quickly adjusted to Southern California living. Janis attended Reseda High School and graduated class of 1965. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Personnel Management from California State University Northridge. For the next 3 decades she worked in Human Resources. From Broadway Department Stores (1970 – 1978) she went on to Hub Distributing “Millers Outpost” (1978-1996) starting at Director of Personnel and working her way up to Director of Compensation and Benefits (1985) and finishing up her illustrious career in Hollywood with PolyGram Holdings (1997-1999) before she retired. With more than 29 years in Human Resources, it is safe to assume Janis was a real people person and no one meant more to her than her Family and Friends. Ok… maybe her animals, but it was a close tie. She loved the outdoors and most weekends you could find her out camping or “Off-roading” with her friends from the Jeep Club. She loved Tennis and shared an affinity for horses with her Niece Debbie. They used to sneak away and go horseback riding every chance they got. Janis loved to travel. From Mexico to Alaska, even Hawaii or just pack up the “kids” Willy and Gizmo in the motor home and escape for the weekend, she always had her sights set on adventure. But we cannot leave out the “occasional” trip to the Casino that always brought a smile to her face as well. If you are reading this, than you already know what and amazing woman she was. There are no words to describe how much she will be missed by so many. She was a God fearing woman who now joins the rest of her family in heaven who have been waiting for her arrival for quite some time now. We have lost a partner, a friend and the best Aunt anyone could ask for, but heaven has gained and angel. I feel very safe knowing she is up there watching over us. We have all gained a Guardian angel so watch out she can see everything we do instead of what we tell her. Janis has survived by her family: Brother-in-law Norman DeCorte, her niece Debbie (DeCorte) Robert, her nephew Derrick DeCorte, her niece Casey (Pfister) Roth, he nephew John Jacob “JJ” Pfister, her grand-nephew Dylan Hoeck, her grand-niece Krysta Hoeck and her grand nephews Wesson and Brady Ziembovic, but her life would not have been complete without her lifelong friends Cindy Ades and Rick Steinbruecker as well as her beloved Gizmo and Willy.