Janet Underwood Smith Brown November 2, 1937-November 2, 2013
Born in Glendale, California, Janet was the daughter of Vernon O. Underwood, Sr. and his wife, Adrienne Young Underwood.
In 1950, at the age of 12, Janet moved with her family to the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles where she attended the Marlborough School for Girls, serving as class Vice-President her senior year.
Upon her graduation from Marlborough in 1955, Janet enrolled in UCLA, where she joined Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Shortly after graduation from UCLA in 1959, Janet married Robert Lawrence Taylor Smith and the newlyweds moved to Newport Beach, California, where they raised their two children, Adrienne and George.
Janet was a tireless volunteer serving as the Leader of Adrienne’s Brownie group, and as a member of the Newport Beach PTA, the Newport Harbor Service League, Angelitos de Oro, and the Little Garden Club of Newport Beach. In addition, she served as President of the Junior League of Orange County in 1976-1977, the Tri Delta Alumnae Club and as President and co-founder of the Newport Harbor Investment Club.
In addition to her volunteer work, Janet was exceptionally philanthropic, donating generously to Mission Hospital, Hoag Hospital, the Girls and Boys Club and Chapman University.
Janet enjoyed travelling, gardening, reading and spending time with her family and countless friends, particularly during summers at Fallen Leaf Lake where she and Taylor owned a family cabin.
Taylor passed away in January, 2005, and Janet married James M. Brown in July, 2008.
In addition to her husband James, Janet is survived by her daughter Adrienne, Adrienne’s two children, Shaina and Savannah and great grandson Dylan, her son George and daughter-in-law Theresa, their two children, Taylor and Koa, her brother Vern and sister-in-law Carol, nephews Jeffrey and Christopher Underwood and first cousin Charleen Naughton.
Janet will be sorely missed by all of her many friends who had the good fortune to have known her and whose lives she so greatly enriched.
Services will be held on Friday, November 8, 2013, 11:00 A.M., at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made in Janet’s memory to the Hoag Family Cancer Institute/Hoag Hospital Foundation, 500 Superior, Ste. 350, Newport Beach, CA 92663.