Obituary
JANICE BURDETTE HESS
Dr. Janice “Jan” Bennetta Burdette Hess, 75, gained her heavenly wings on Saturday, January 29, 2022, surrounded by loved ones at home in DeLand, FL.
Born July 4, 1946, in LaGrange, GA, to Carl Alton Burdette and Bennetta Hipp Burdette, Jan was a 1964 cum laude graduate of New Smyrna Beach High School and received her RN degree from Orange Memorial Hospital in Orlando, FL in 1967. At age 60, Jan decided to pursue her PhD and received her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Florida.
Always the overachiever, Jan was a pioneer in the Nurse Practitioner field, graduating at the top of her class in one of the first Nurse Practitioner programs offered in the U.S. gaining her APRN and FNP-BC degrees focusing on family medicine. Jan was an active and very involved member of the Florida Nurses Association (FNA), serving at every level from local district to President to the Board of Directors. She was well known in Tallahassee, where she was an ardent and vocal supporter of all Florida nurses and nurse practitioners and helped get major legislation passed. Jan was inducted into the FNA Hall of Fame in 2021.
In addition to her passion for nursing, Jan enjoyed crafting, her Florida Gators and genealogy. Her years of researching her family history recently led to her acceptance as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Besides her many professional and personal pursuits, nothing compared to the love she had for her family. Jan married the love of her life, John Randall “Randy” Hess, on August 19, 1966. Randy, their daughters Heather Gleason (Paul) and Laurie Hess as well as her grandchildren, Sage Hess, Keegan Gleason and Kailee Gleason were the lights of her life.
Other survivors include her sister, Medra Burdette (Jim Bubul); sister-in-law, Karen (Gary) Burdette; brother-in-law, Bill Hess; sister-in-law, Barbara Collins (Marlin); nephews and nieces Jesse Bubul (Carrie), Krista Nilsson (Tyler), Kerri Anderson-Forbear (Bill) and Patrick Collins (Stephanie) and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Jan was preceded in death by her brother, Gary Burdette and brother-in-law, Thomas Hess.
A celebration of Janice’s life will take place at Lake Helen Methodist Church on Saturday, April 2 at 1:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jan’s name to Halifax Health Hospice, 1250 South SR 15-A, Suite 5, DeLand, FL 32720 or Good Samaritan Clinic, 136 E Plymouth Ave #2871, DeLand FL 32724.
You demonstrated a lifelong love of helping others in need.
You have been blessing to the Force of Nursing, and enabled the evolving role of Nurse Practitioners, to function at their fullest capacity.
Now Rest, you worked so hard.
With Adoration and Love
Betsy Cirolia, RN, MSN, FNP~CS
You were a wonderful nurse and an admirable advocate for nursing. Rest in peace