Janice Sue Small

Janice Sue was born December 12, 1937, in Dewey, Oklahoma, to Joseph and Velma Green. After the United States entered World War II, her father left Dewey to look for work in the San Francisco Bay Area. She, along with her mother and sister, Nancy, followed him six months later, eventually settling in Martinez.

In junior high and high school, Jan became a talented majorette, which is how she caught the eye of Larry Small. They married in April 1956 and shared more than 68 years together.

Jan and Larry made their home in Fremont, where they raised their family and remained for the rest of their lives. Early on, Jan held several jobs, but her true passion was art, and it became her life’s work. She worked in oils, acrylics, watercolors, sculpture, pottery, tile, batik, stained glass, jewelry, and many other forms, earning numerous awards for her work.

Her art increasingly reflected her deep Christian faith. Her greatest undertaking was a 19-year project illustrating the Book of Revelation, which became both a book and a multimedia presentation shared with churches and gatherings around the world.

After Larry retired, they traveled to more than 25 countries and enjoyed annual visits to Hawaii’s Big Island for 23 years. Larry devoted himself to giving Jan the life she wanted, and she lived it to the fullest.

Jan is survived by her sons, Steve (Kelly) and Mike (Lori); grandchildren Jake, Josh (Amanda), Ethan, and Sarah; great-grandsons Matthew and Wyatt; sister Nancy (Mac); and brothers Joe (Marilyn) and Carl.

A memorial service will be held September 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Centerville Presbyterian Church, 4360 Central Ave., Fremont. Burial will follow at Irvington Memorial Cemetery, 41001 Chapel Way, Fremont, with a reception afterward.