Happy Holidays - CanCare

Volunteer Spotlight:
Jan dennard: 40-Year survivor
and 20-Year CanCare volunTeer!
Reverend Janet Dennard has been
helping others for most of her 86
years. Born in Chicago and raised
in Cleveland, she attended the College
of Human Ecology at Cornell University
and earned a Bachelor of Science degree
in Nutrition / Institutional
Management.
In 1971, Jan was diagnosed
with breast cancer. She shares,
“I was under the care of a
surgeon for my cancer, not
an oncologist.” A few years
later, she started her career at
M.D. Anderson and worked
there from 1978 – 1995 as a
patient care coordinator. After
becoming a trained CanCare
volunteer in 1990, she was able
to use her CanCare training to
help others she met through
MDA.
In 1990, she learned about
CanCare from friends who
attended Memorial Drive
Presbyterian Church. They told
her about a new ministry that
was started by Anne and Mac
Turnage. After talking with
Anne, she decided this was a
great organization to join and
was trained in CanCare’s 2nd
training class. Jan was a oneon-one
support volunteer for
many years and still uses her
CanCare training at Eagles Jan Dennard
Trace, a retirement community,
to help others who are battling cancer.
“I’m a trouble-shooter by nature and
CanCare taught me how to be a good
listener. I learned that I can be there for
someone without always having to solve the
problem. Between my work with CanCare
and being a volunteer for Community of
Hope, I continue to be there for people
who need support. We call it our ‘Hallway
Ministry’ and we pay attention to what is
going on with other residents around us. If
we notice that someone could use a friend
to talk to, we respond by letting them know
they are not alone.”
As a commissioned pastoral care
minister with Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ,) Jan helps lead the Sunday
services at Eagles Trace and finds guest
clergy to lead the monthly community
worship services. “My dad was a minister
so I’m very comfortable with all religious
denominations. It is important to us that
everyone feels welcome, regardless of their
choice of faith.”
In the early days of CanCare, Jan was
one of the planners who helped open doors
for others to get support, regardless of their
beliefs. CanCare was founded in Memorial
5
Drive Presbyterian Church. She shares,
“We knew we had something special. Back
then, people were less open to talking
about cancer. We were doing something
innovative and wanted to share it with
others… we wanted to be there for anyone
who wanted support, regardless of
religious affiliation.” Jan has also
served for many years as a CanCare
Board of Representatives member,
representing Bethany Christian
Church and Eagles Trace.
She was married to Walter
Holmes, also known as “Big Red”
for 48 years. After his long and
traveled career with Shell Oil, they
settled in Houston in 1970. Jan
married her second husband, Roy
Dennard, in 1997 and they were
married for four years.
As one of seven women in her
family who have experienced breast
cancer, she hopes that it stops with
her. In addition to her involvement
with support organizations
like CanCare, she has been a
dedicated member of Philanthropic
Education Organization, an
organization with the mission
of promoting educational
opportunities for women, for
65 years. Although passionate
about all of the organizations she
supports, the most important
role she plays is being the mother
of three, grandmother of six and
soon-to-be great-grandmother in
November. Jan also enjoys reading, music,
singing in the choir and traveling when she
has the opportunity.
When asked about her years of service
caring and supporting others, and 40 years
as a cancer survivor, she smiles and says,
“God isn’t finished with me yet. He has
always had plans for me, and still keeps
coming up with new plans for me. I have a
lot of gratitude that I am still able to serve
God each and every day of my life.”
713.461.0028