Janet C. Link, age 80, of Yankton, passed away unexpectedly at her residence early Monday, September, 1, 2008. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM, Friday, September 5, 2008 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel, Yankton with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Private family burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton. Visitations will be from 6-8 PM, Thursday, September 4, 2008 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Janet Claire Brooke Link was born on September 27, 1927 in Quincy, Illinois to Francis Ambrose Brooke, a Notre Dame Graduate, and to Madeline Davies Brooke, an Illinois socialite. Janet's grandfather, Flavius Lionel Brooke, held the position as the 42nd Justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan from 1908-1921.
Janet was raised most of her life in the Rock Island and Moline, Illinois areas. She attended a private all-girls school, the former Villa de Chantal in Rock Island, and graduated with honors from Moline High School in June 1945. That same year, Janet attended William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri and graduated with a two-year Associate of Arts degree in June 1947. She was the President of Harmon Residence Hall, Treasurer of the International Relations Club, Treasurer of the Senior Class, and a member of the Young Women's Christian Association.
Janet Brooke and Robert Link were married in April 1947. They lived in both Davenport and West Des Moines, Iowa while Janet stayed at home raising three girls and Bob worked at 1040 WHO.
In 1962 Bob, Janet and family moved to Yankton. Janet worked as a medical records clerk and receptionist at the Yankton Medical Clinic for 29 years.
Janet, also known as Granny, loved to read, laugh at Maxine, watch Jerry Springer, work crossword puzzles, read People and Vanity Fair, enjoy See's Chocolates or anything chocolate, eat Tastees, Charlie's Pizza, and BLT sandwiches. Granny also loved to talk about celebrities as if they were her next-door neighbors.
Granny's colorful personality, contagious laughter, quick wit, entertaining stories, expansive vocabulary, worldly etiquette knowledge, amazing memory, original humor, celebrity gossip, movie memorabilia, monogrammed sheets, Love that Red lipstick, and truly, vivacious spirit will be sadly and greatly missed.
I only hope you were so lucky to have met Granny or my Grand Ma-Ma. She was an icon, role model, and socialite of a generation that used to be, and a generation that is no longer found. She was, without a doubt, a one of a kind lady and definitely a one of a kind show.
Keep laughing, eating bacon, and enjoying your crosswords, Gran. "Oh Stars!" Hopefully now you'll be decent, Granny. However, I'm sure you're still sternly replying back as usual, "I'm never decent child!"---"Good Show! Gran, Good Show!"
Surviving are her daughter Judy Tereshinski and husband Bob, Yankton; daughter Laura Curtice and husband Chuck, Garland, TX; three grandchildren, Anne Tereshinski, Sioux Falls; Mary Yarbrough and husband Chris, Rowlett, TX; Matt Tereshinski and wife Renee, Yankton; two great-grandchildren, Lauren and Claire Tereshinski, Yankton; and wonderful close friends Becky Boyd, Yankton, and fiancˇ Kevin Neuhalfen, St. Helena, NE.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob and daughter Mary Link.
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