Janet Soileau Lopez

Janet Marie Lopez , 67, of Beaumont, died Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Focused Care at Summer Place, Beaumont. She was born on April 7, 1956, to Deola Guillory Soileau and Calvin Soileau in Winnie, Texas.

Jan was born and raised in Beaumont before moving to Houston as fast as she could to enjoy life in the fast lane. She loved to travel and experience new places and things. She was always ready for an adventure. She loved the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Cowboys. She loved music of all genres and loved to dance! She would meet her mom and sisters at the Crab Festival at Cystal Beach every Mothers’ Day. She modeled locally with Judy in her 20s. Her sisters remained her lifelong best friends. Phyllis followed Jan to Houston where they had many adventures of their own. Both Judy and Phyllis cared for Jan for years after her accident both physically and spiritually, making sure to always keep a smile on Jan’s face or laughing until they cried. And when Phyllis passed away of breast cancer in 2009, Judy and Jan leaned on each other. The last several years, Judy was at Jan’s bedside for hours a day every single day until her final breath, proving the unbreakable bond that sisters have. But don’t think they didn’t all have their fair share of sisterly disputes! Poor Carl was left to referee his 3 sisters many times! Brittany always said she was going to put Judy and Jan in the same room together at the nursing home so they could drive each other crazy!

While Jan was never blessed with children of her own, she stole Judy and Carl’s kids (and later their grandkids!) as much as she could. She was known as the “cool aunt”. She was the Godmother to her nephew, Shawn. Jody lived with Jan in Houston for a while after high school before joining the Air Force. Brittany lived for the weekends Aunt Jan would come get her and take her to Houston and do all the fun things like Astro World, Water World, Moody Gardens. She was known affectionately as Aunt Jan but probably her favorite name was JJ by her great nieces and nephews. During Covid, her great nieces and nephews kept her spirits up and kept her going by coming for numerous weekend visits to her room window and hanging signs and pictures and birdhouses they made her and bring plants to hang outside her window when we weren’t able to go inside and be with her.

Jan suffered a tragic fall 24 years ago at her lake house, which left her quadriplegic. She was only 43 years old. She spent many months at Memorial Hermann, not knowing if she would survive at times. And then from there she spent many more months at TIRR learning how to navigate her new life. While her life changed from that moment forward, she never lost her zest and determination. Jan never gave up and fought hard every single day. She was fiercely independent. She was given 10 years maximum to live but in true Jan fashion, she proved them wrong and lived much longer than that. While we are completely heartbroken and lost without her, we take such comfort and peace in knowing she is finally free from her earthly burdens, and we have no doubt she is already DANCING on the streets of gold to some zydeco music with her mom, dad, and sister.

Survivors include her brother, James Carl Soileau and his wife, Patricia, of Whitehouse; sister, Judy Soileau Ballew of Beaumont; nieces, Brittany Syphrett and husband, Daniel, of Sour Lake; and Angie Fuller and husband, Dan, of Tyler; and nephews, Joseph Brady, Jr. of Bossier City and Shawn Soileau and wife, Melissa, of Lewisville. She also leaves behind numerous great nieces and nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Calvin Soileau and Deola Soileau Silva and siblings; infant brother, Robert Wayne Soileau; and sister, Phyllis Soileau Murphy.

Jan’s family would like to give a very special thank you to Kenneth Craig for the many years of love and care he provided Jan. We would also like to thank the staff at Summer Place for their care over the last 9.5 years and a special thank you to Charlotte and Sugg. And lastly, we would like to thank Compassion Hospice, especially Allison, Elaine and Chaplain Pitre.

A memorial service for Ms. Lopez will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. There will be a reception to follow at Brittany and Daniel Syphrett’s home, 17387 Highway 326 North, Sour Lake, Texas.

Her cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, 6825 Gladys Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77706.