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Jan was born to Naval Captain Paul and Pauline Carbiener in Vallejo, California. After her sister Joan was born the family moved several times before settling in San Francisco for Jan's high school years. She was proud to be called a Navy Junior during her growing up years as her father was a member of the Naval Dental Corps during World War II.
Jan was accepted to UC Berkeley after graduation from Lowell High School at the age of 16. She focused on accounting for her studies. She became a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority where many lifelong friendships were created. It was during an exchange with the Del Rey Fraternity that she met the love of her life, Vic Emmerich. At the exchange a bonfire was lit that gave Jan a bad case of poison oak. Vic came to visit her in the hospital and the rest is history. She always looked back at their college years with such happiness, even recalling how it was there that Vic taught her how to drive. They spent a wonderful 62 years together.
Vic and Jan continued to be lifelong UC Berkeley fans (Go Bears!). They were football and basketball season ticket holders and attended games with their fellow Cal Bear "cronies." The annual Big Game party at their home in Lafayette was not to be missed.
In addition to being avid Cal Bear fans, travel was a big part of their life together. They passed their love of travel on to their whole family, even taking each grandchild to a different country when they graduated from eighth grade. After seeing much of the world their love of Kauai became clear and they spent the summer months there with friends and family.
Always one to laugh at herself, the family fondly remembers Jan's life on a diet. She was always aware of the next best fad diet and she tried them all. Family will also smile and think about her honorary acceptance into the British Secret Service. This honor was given to her by an "official member" of the service, her husband Vic, and was often referred to when teaching the kids little tips and tricks.
Jan was a very active resident of Lafayette and served many positions in the Suburban Women's Club. She took her roles seriously within the community and continued this with being baptized at St. Monica Church in Moraga at the age of 83. Becoming Catholic was very important to her, something she was unable to do prior to Vic's passing as he didn't "take it seriously enough."
Jan made it clear that she will miss everyone a lot. She will be greatly missed and will live on in the hearts of many.
A memorial service will be held in the fall. Donations in her memory may be made to Hospice of the East Bay whose staff cared for her so lovingly.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA