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Obituaries

Geneva Preservationist Janet Safanda Will Be Remembered With Concert Saturday

Longtime Geneva historic preservationist Janet Safanda, who loved music, will be remembered in a short concert Saturday, Aug. 11, at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church.

Janet Wright Safanda loved music. And so she will be remembered Saturday with a short concert by the Orion Ensemble at .

Safanda, 72, died Saturday, Aug. 4, at her home in Geneva. She was born to William and Margaret Wright in El Paso, Texas, and spent her childhood in Texas, and Kansas, according to her Yurs Funeral Home obituary.

Safanda was a champion of historic preservation in Geneva, and one of the founders of the Geneva Preservation Commission.

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She was a gifted teacher of young and old, and taught at Oak Park-River Forest High School and Elgin Academy. For two decades, she worked as a management development consultant for Andersen Consulting, Accenture, McDonald’s Corporation and Time-Warner Cable.

Without fanfare, she gave generously of her time, ingenuity and resources to the people, institutions and organizations she valued so passionately. In addition to being a founding board member of the Geneva Preservation Commission, she later became executive director and long-time supporter of Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley.

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She devoted herself to the League of Women Voters of Kane County, serving in many capacities, including president, and chair of the Voter Service Committee. Many local politicians will recall her very professional and polished demeanor as moderator of candidates’ forums.

Music was one of Safanda's passions, which included her love for chamber and choral music, opera, and the Chicago Symphony. She was a very supportive fan of the St. Charles Singers, and she provided 20 years of dedication to The Orion Ensemble, serving as its board chairman and encouraging the growth of its audience in Chicago and in the Tri-Cities.

Among her many hobbies were reading, gardening and ballet, especially Chicago’s Joffrey troupe.

Always, her family came first, her obituary noted.

Safanda is survived by her husband of 46 years, Roy, her two sons, John (Hannah) and David (Elisa) and her four grandchildren, Zoe, Mia, Royal and Nico. Also surviving are her brother, Ralph, and niece, Hillary, and her trusty border collie, Conor.

A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the , Geneva. The program will include a short concert by the Orion Ensemble, with light refreshments to follow.

The family requests no flowers; memorial gifts should be directed to the charity of one’s choice.

For more information, please call Yurs Funeral Home of Geneva, 630-232-7337 or visit www.yursfuneralhomes.com.

 

This story and photos are courtesy of Yurs Funeral Home.

 

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