Ida Janice DeFort, 85 of Tampa FL, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2023, at Concordia Village under Lifepath Hospice care in Tampa, Florida. She was born August 7, 1938, in Beverly, MA to the late Raymond and Eunice Tarr.
She was known to her family and friends as “Jan.” She grew up in Wenham, MA. and attended school there. She enjoyed dancing and took lessons at a very early age up until finishing high school and graduating from Beverly High School.
She married her loving husband, Francis “Frank” DeFort, in Las Vegas on May 17th of 1972. Together for 49 years they traveled and lived at many Air Force bases including Las Vegas, NV, Germany, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, England, Portsmouth, NH and Wenham, Ma and retired at Tampa, FL.
Jan had a kind soul and was always willing to help anyone in need. She loved animals of all kinds and once worked for animal control where she rescued many animals. She enjoyed golf and played on several different leagues. She worked at the Wenham Country Club Pro Shop where she spent time with her many friends. She enjoyed meeting people and had a wonderful sense of humor. Some of her hobbies included collecting Princess Diana Dolls, Hummel figurines, Betty Boops and clocks. She had a green thumb with house plants and grew beautiful Hollyhock gardens. She spent endless hours researching her family ancestry and most of all she loved spending time with her children and her grandchildren.
She is survived by her three sons, Charles Kearsey and wife, Sheila, of Portsmouth, NH, Raymond Kearsey and wife Sherri of Barrington, NH and Michael DeFort of Hamilton, MA. Six grandchildren, two great grandchildren and a brother Russell Tarr and wife Patricia of MA and her sister Norma Rousseau of MA.
Jan was predeceased by her husband Frank and her baby daughter Michelle DeFort. Two brothers, Frank and Raymond Tarr.
She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
A celebration of life will be held for Jan and her husband Frank on Nov. 11 at the Wenham Country club from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.