Rose Janet Wilson

SERVICE DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO JULY 31, 2022 AT 10:30 A.M.

Rose Janet Wilson (Jan), PhD, 75, passed away on Saturday, June 18, 2022, in Pittsboro, NC.

Dr. Wilson was born September 7, 1946 in Detroit, MI to the late Solomon and Adele Goodman. After obtaining a Masters of Social Work degree from Wayne State University, Jan spent twenty-five years in professional practice in the areas of mental health, child abuse and neglect, school social work, residential treatment for youth, disability services, and family support. This included teaching and assisting pregnant and runaway teenagers while working with the nonprofit child and family services agency Youth in Need, and advocating for families of individuals with disabilities for the St. Louis Arc.

In 1996, Jan joined the faculty of the St. Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice as a member of the innovative field education team and a specialist in family practice and school social work. For the next 18 years, she oversaw the practicum program for graduate students and taught graduate classes focusing on school social work. In 2001, she traveled to the Volga Federal District of Russia for a summer institute focused on the differences in service organizations in the U.S. and Russia.

In 2006, Jan obtained her doctorate in higher education from St. Louis University, focusing on issues of educational equity and multicultural competence in higher education.  Jan retired and moved to Pittsboro, NC in 2014 to focus on being a grandmother.

In addition to her career and academic accomplishments, Jan was a dedicated and selfless mother, sister, daughter, friend and Bubbe to her three grandchildren. Jan loved traveling, reading, independent films, art, history and British mysteries. She was an avid photographer, exceptional cook, and enjoyed digging in the dirt as much as digging through family photo albums. She was also the family’s historian and a talented storyteller, always providing detailed accounts of the generations before her: from the persecution of late 19^th century Russia, to the tenements of New York City, and the industrial boom times of Detroit. Jan held those who came before her in deep and sincere reverence, a tradition for those who loved her to carry forward with profound gratitude and intense joy.

Jan had an extensive interest in, and empathy for, people all over the world which manifested itself in her devotion to a number of causes and in her lifelong interest in learning. She cared intensely for those in her life, as well as people halfway around the world. She was a force for justice and equality and a passionate advocate for those in need. As such, she had a profound impact on countless individuals through her life’s work and through her friendships. She was deeply loved, and will be deeply missed.

Jan is survived by her daughter Leah Wilson, husband Nick Trotta, of Durham, NC; her son Seth Wilson, wife Jennifer Neal, of Nolensville, TN; her three grandchildren, Adeline Trotta and Elliott Trotta of Durham, NC, and Madeleine Neal-Wilson of Nolensville, TN; and her brother Philip Goodman of North Port, FL.

A graveside service will be held on Sunday, July 31st, at 10:30 a.m. at the Judea Reform Congregation Cemetery. Rabbi Matt Soffer will officiate. The graveside service can be streamed on YouTube at the following link at the time of the service: https://youtu.be/dBFou3nAyxk .

Following the graveside service on Sunday, July 31st, at 11:30 a.m. the family is hosting a memorial service at the Fearrington House located at 2000 Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC 27312. The memorial service can be streamed on YouTube at the following link at the time of the service: https://youtu.be/kfVn4jDLCT0 .

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the National Council of Jewish Women, and/or the Sierra Club.