Janet Anne Benson (“Jan”) Pickett

Janet Anne Benson (“Jan”) Pickett, a Tiburon resident for over 40 years, passed away peacefully at her home on June 23, 2026, surrounded by her family after a courageous and lengthy battle with lung disease. Jan lived a beautiful, loving, and extraordinary life, and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.

Jan was born in Chicago on March 20, 1951, to John William and Mary Halpin Benson. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.A. degree, and she obtained master’s degrees from Southern Connecticut University in education and from the University of San Francisco in psychology. Jan was a teacher, a marriage and child counselor, and served as president of the Reed Union School District. Jan met her future husband Donn in grammar school (assuredly neither of them had the foggiest notion of any future together). They married right after their college graduations in 1973, and that special union endured for 53 years.

Jan’s true passion was being a mother and grandmother. She was a beloved and enduring matriarch — selfless, patient, caring, kind, wise, and unwaveringly positive. She will be remembered lovingly by her family and friends for so many of her unique contributions to their lives — her unceasing dedication and support of her ‘ohana. She had a special relationship to Hawaii and its aloha spirit.

Jan was renowned for her gift of throwing unforgettable and unique parties, her baking, particularly Christmas cookies (and as a teenager she won the first prize in a Northern Illinois cherry pie contest!); her hiking the hills above her home in Tiburon, especially to enjoy the poppies and other wildflowers; her Swedish Christmas celebrations to honor her heritage; her passion for playing charades and dice games; her loyalty to the Giants through thick and thin; her love of British police dramas; her special ability to grow beautiful gardens, particularly roses and dahlias; her sunrise walks along Lanikai Beach; her special Cosmo recipe; and her love of fireworks and Tahoe — best in combination. Jan also loved to travel and explore the world. She and Donn visited more than 65 countries while traveling to every continent, and (a particular Jan favorite) they took part in over 100 safari game drives during six trips to Africa.

Jan is survived by her husband, Donn; her daughter, Jessica (Parker) Lyons; her son, William (Emma) Pickett; four grandchildren, Johanna and Lillian Pickett, and Rose and Harvey Lyons; and her sister, Jill Ralph.

The family hosted a private celebration of Jan’s life. They request that donations in Jan’s memory be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.