Janet G. (Hawksworth) Ness died of complications of Parkinson's disease on October 9, 2019 at age 86. Private family services, a Celebration of Life with friends will be held later this year. Janet was born in Honolulu on September 13, 1933. She grew up on Maunalani Heights in the home her parents built and lived in until 1998. Janet attended Ali'iolani Elementary School, Stevenson Intermediate, and graduated from Roosevelt High. She attended the University of Hawai'i for two years until she met and married Willard "Bill" Ness who was in the Air Force and stationed in Honolulu during the Korean War. Janet and Bill had three daughters; Margaret, Anne and Jennifer. After raising her family, Janet returned to school and earned her Associates Degree in Library Technology in 1973. Soon after, she began what was to be a 24-year career at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum starting in the library in a temporary position and eventually holding the title of Museum Registrar. After being laid off, she joined the staff of I'olani Palace as Collections Manager where she remained until her retirement in 2003. She respected Hawaiian culture and took great pride in doing what she could over her lifetime to help preserve artifacts that are deeply meaningful to Hawaiians. She had an abiding love of Hawai'i, its people, culture, ocean, flora and fauna. In her own words: "The first lucky thing that happened to me was being born in Hawai'i, something I am thankful for every day." At the age of 45, she took up running. Completing two Honolulu Marathons, and taking home numerous awards earned running the Hawai'i Women's 10K and other races run with good friends over many years. Running and active adventures were very important to her, and later in life she travelled when she could. She visited many places including Easter Island, the Marquesas, Tasmania, Egypt, China, Thailand, Nova Scotia, France, and Tahiti. She hiked the Routeburn Track solo in New Zealand, parasailed in Mexico, floated on a hot air balloon in Jordan, climbed Machu Picchu in Peru, rode a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and whitewater rafted the Deschutes River in Oregon. She completed her bachelor's degree in 1989, an accomplishment she worked towards for many years. Janet loved reading, community theater, Hawaiian music (especially Led Ka'apana) botanical gardens, animals (notably her cat Coco, a companion for 20 years) and was a lifelong volunteer giving her time to many causes. She was a CASA for children, and after retirement she spent time helping at the state judiciary archives. Janet is survived by her three daughters who miss her dearly, her brother Lenley, her sister Alice, four grandchildren, one great grandchild and many friends who are considered family. Remembrances can be made in her name to Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden and Windward Community Theater.
Janet G. (Hawksworth) Ness died of complications of Parkinson's disease on October 9, 2019 at age 86. Private family services, a Celebration of Life with friends will be held later this year. Janet was born in Honolulu on September 13, 1933. She grew up on Maunalani Heights in the home her parents built and lived in until 1998. Janet attended Ali'iolani Elementary School, Stevenson Intermediate, and graduated from Roosevelt High. She attended the University of Hawai'i for two years until she met and married Willard "Bill" Ness who was in the Air Force and stationed in Honolulu during the Korean War. Janet and Bill had three daughters; Margaret, Anne and Jennifer. After raising her family, Janet returned to school and earned her Associates Degree in Library Technology in 1973. Soon after, she began what was to be a 24-year career at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum starting in the library in a temporary position and eventually holding the title of Museum Registrar. After being laid off, she joined the staff of I'olani Palace as Collections Manager where she remained until her retirement in 2003. She respected Hawaiian culture and took great pride in doing what she could over her lifetime to help preserve artifacts that are deeply meaningful to Hawaiians. She had an abiding love of Hawai'i, its people, culture, ocean, flora and fauna. In her own words: "The first lucky thing that happened to me was being born in Hawai'i, something I am thankful for every day." At the age of 45, she took up running. Completing two Honolulu Marathons, and taking home numerous awards earned running the Hawai'i Women's 10K and other races run with good friends over many years. Running and active adventures were very important to her, and later in life she travelled when she could. She visited many places including Easter Island, the Marquesas, Tasmania, Egypt, China, Thailand, Nova Scotia, France, and Tahiti. She hiked the Routeburn Track solo in New Zealand, parasailed in Mexico, floated on a hot air balloon in Jordan, climbed Machu Picchu in Peru, rode a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and whitewater rafted the Deschutes River in Oregon. She completed her bachelor's degree in 1989, an accomplishment she worked towards for many years. Janet loved reading, community theater, Hawaiian music (especially Led Ka'apana) botanical gardens, animals (notably her cat Coco, a companion for 20 years) and was a lifelong volunteer giving her time to many causes. She was a CASA for children, and after retirement she spent time helping at the state judiciary archives. Janet is survived by her three daughters who miss her dearly, her brother Lenley, her sister Alice, four grandchildren, one great grandchild and many friends who are considered family. Remembrances can be made in her name to Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden and Windward Community Theater.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
