Janet G. Riley

Janet G. Riley January 30, 1921 - October 27, 2011

Janet G. Riley, 90 of Port Arthur, died Thursday October 27, 2011 at St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur, Texas. Janet G. Suess was born January 30, 1921 in Lackawanna, New York, one of eleven children born to Arthur and Delia Seufert Suess. She was a resident of Port Arthur for 50 years. Jan was an extraordinary woman in many ways-independent and hard-working all of her life, starting at a young age to help supplement the family's income during the Great Depression. She also helped care for her younger siblings so that both parents could work. She was physically beautiful, but her true beauty came from within. She valued a strong work ethic and a belief in "others before self." She instilled this in her own children by her words and deeds. Her daily examples of determination and "doing the best you can" are an inspiration to all who knew her. She always had the right words to say to comfort or encourage others. She loved life and loved her family with her whole heart. In 1966, she and husband, Jeff Riley opened The Foc'sle Club, a bar and restaurant in downtown Port Arthur. The Foc'sle was very popular with the locals and was known worldwide due in part to the many seafarers who stopped by when their ships were in port. Jan was a wonderful cook and loved to feed her family and friends. Using this talent while in her 60's, she lived one of the great adventures of her lifetime as a cook for Port Arthur Towing Company on their motor vessels. The photo above was her favorite, attached to the application for her Merchant Mariner papers. She often reminisced with joy about the beautiful scenery she saw during her years on the rivers and waterways of America. Jan was a voracious reader, enjoyed her friends at the Port Arthur Senior Center, collected frogs, worked a crossword puzzle every day and loved to play cards. She loved and was loved by the "Quarter Quarter Girls." Jan is survived by her son, Thomas Lehman and his wife Linda of Powell, Ohio and 2 daughters, Lynne Richter and Jeanne Riley, both of Port Arthur. Grandchildren, David (Dorothy) Rotondo, Michele (Danny) Larcade, Linda (Chuche) Figueroa, Angela (Raymond) Gronross, Jennifer (Jim) Flexer and Jeff (Debra) Lehman. Eleven great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Sisters, Muriel Williard, Ardyth VanValkenburg, Lorraine Kirkpatrick, Mary Lou Edwards and Natalie Slocum, all of New York State as well as numerous nices and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and 5 brothers, Arthur, Norman, Irving, Robert and Richard Suess all of New York State. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Port Arthur International Seafarers' Center, 401 Houston Ave., Port Arthur, TX 77640 or the charity of your choice.