Janice "Jan" Maeyaert-Hansen

The livestream of Jan's service can be accessed at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, by clicking the webcast link under the "Photos & Videos" tab, or by copying and pasting the following link into your web browser: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCudZsPGzeDOAYF4jhh_mjFg. A celebration of the life of Janice “Jan” Maeyaert-Hansen will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Marshall. A walk-through visitation will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 on Friday at the church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Janice LaRayne (Breyfogle) Maeyaert-Hansen, best known as Jan, Mom, Nana, and Nanni was born on February 12, 1946, in Marshall, MN to Marion and Romania (VanDeVeire) Breyfogle. Jan grew up in Marshall and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1964, followed by time studying art and design at Mankato State University. She married her longtime childhood friend and classmate Walter James Maeyaert and they raised three children together. She was a loving mother to Scott Patrick Maeyaert, Sarah Jayne Maeyaert Avedikian, and Jessica Raye Maeyaert Fowler. Besides being an involved, hands-on parent she managed to fulfill a lifetime career using her natural creative abilities as an outlet to inspire others. She held a position at Joyce’s Sewing Box for close to 20 years and then went on to open her very own storefront business, The Country Sampler. She later worked with the interior designers at 509 Design. Years following Walt’s untimely death in 1994, Jan met John William Hansen and they were married on the Crazy J Ranch in Lynd, MN. John was a father to three grown children and a grandfather as well. Jan became a member at First Lutheran Church in Marshall, where she previously participated in Beginning Experience, eventually becoming a facilitator supporting other grieving individuals through their loss. As a lifelong resident of Marshall, Jan was involved with many volunteer and community organizations such as Jaycee Women, Red Hat Society, and Lyon County Historical Museum, just to name a few. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and also the Redwood Valley Riders horse trail riding club where she moved into a leadership role. She enjoyed design work, sewing most everything - including her own fashion as a teenager, our childhood dresses and linens, prom dresses, wedding dresses and baptismal gowns for her grandchildren. She celebrated people better than anyone I know - down to the last little extraordinary personal touches. She realized a lifelong dream in owning her own horses and spent years riding trails in Southwest Minnesota and caring for them like family on the Crazy J Ranch. Jan made everything she touched more beautiful and taught us to find the magic in the everyday. Mom will be fondly remembered for teaching us how to “live,” stand back up after we stumble, mine for the beauty in our situations, and DANCE. Her laughter was infectious and she made our lives a constant adventure. She was a friend to many and loved each and every one of them. Whether riding horses, creating and crafting, shopping for treasures, or just enjoying the lake, there was always an abundance of smiles and giggles. Jan was diagnosed unexpectedly with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in late 2014. She moved from a nursing home in Canby to Wayzata, MN in late 2019 to be closer to, and receive loving care from, her children. After a long and courageous fight Jan passed away peacefully with her children holding her hands on May 4, 2020, at Folkestone nursing home in Wayzata. She is remembered by her three children: Scott (wife Julie) Maeyaert, Sarah (husband Alex) Avedikian, and Jessica (fiance Trebor) Fowler; three stepchildren: Kevin (wife Lisa) Hansen, Kari (husband Kelly) O’Connor, and Kelly (wife Susie) Hansen; fifteen grandchildren: Stephanie Hansen, Case Hansen, Caitlin Hansen, Jack O’Connor, Sawyer Hansen, Shea Hansen, Nick O’Connor, Sarah Hansen, Harriett Hansen, Evita Hansen, Isabella Avedikian, Zachary Maeyaert, Alexandra Avedikian, Kennedy Fowler, and Camden Fowler; and siblings Beverly (husband Doug) Copa, Duane Breyfogle, Don (wife Linda), Ron Breyfogle; and her beloved horse “Blue.” Jan is preceded in death by her parents Marion and Romania Breyfogle, her first husband Walt, and her late husband John. Farewell, our dear Mama. Love you much…