Jana Mary Sheehan was the kind of woman whose presence filled a room long before she spoke. She was steadfast in her faith, unwavering in her convictions, generous beyond measure, and deeply interested in the people around her. She noticed what others overlooked, loved without reservation, laughed often, and lived with a confidence that gave others permission to become fully themselves. After courageously facing cancer, Jana went home to be with her Heavenly Father on July 23, 2026, surrounded by the family she treasured.

Born on December 27, 1954, in New Ulm, Minnesota, Jana was the daughter of Curtis and Mary Jane Sheehan and the beloved sister of Shauna Comber, Kelly Sheehan, and Darby Sheehan. The resilience, honesty, and compassion that marked her childhood stayed with her throughout her life.

Throughout much of her career, Jana worked in the financial and mortgage industries, where she was known for her reliability, intelligence, and strong work ethic. While she approached every job with excellence, those who knew her best understood that work was never the center of her life. Family was. Once retired, her days were joyfully filled with tending the property she and Scott loved, creating beautiful spaces, tackling one project after another, gardening, cooking, and finding countless ways to care for the people around her. She rarely sat still for long, and there always seemed to be another idea waiting for her hands to bring it to life.

More than anything, Jana loved people. She often called herself “a noticer,” and it couldn’t have been more true. She noticed the person standing quietly in the corner, the one carrying an unseen burden, and the details everyone else missed. She listened with genuine curiosity, asked thoughtful questions, and wasn’t afraid of hard conversations because she believed they led to deeper relationships. She once searched endlessly for the perfect Grinch Christmas tree, just to delight a boy she recently came to love. That was Jana — finding joy in making other people feel seen, quietly finding ways to support a family in need. Her strength wasn’t found in having all the answers; it was found in the confidence to speak honestly, listen openly, and love people exactly where they were.

Her faith became one of the defining joys of her life, strengthening day by day through life’s hardships and greatest celebrations. She found treasured friendships through her Bible study, eagerly anticipating conversations that often stretched everyone’s thinking—including her own. Jana believed faith grows through honest questions. Even during her final days, her wit remained. Just days before she passed, she was able to lightly tease her livelong friend in faith.  Barely speaking by this point, she whispered to her as she left - “now you behave at Bible study.” It was unmistakably Jana—full of humor, love, and just enough playful challenge to make everyone smile. She faced her final days with remarkable peace, confident in the promise of Heaven and looking forward to seeing her beloved mother again.

Jana shared a beautiful life with her husband, Scott. Together they built a home filled with laughter, projects, gardens, camping trips, family gatherings, and unconditional love. They balanced one another beautifully—Jana’s grounded strength complementing Scott’s playful spirit—and together created a place where family always felt welcome.

She was a devoted mother to Caley and Caleb and found immeasurable joy in being “Gramma” to her eight grandchildren. She loved each of them deeply and uniquely, always encouraging them to become exactly who God created them to be. No matter the distance, the season of life, or the path they chose, her love never wavered. She celebrated their dreams, supported their journeys, and never stopped believing in each one of them.

Some of Jana’s happiest memories were the simplest ones—family camping trips by the lake, evenings around a crackling campfire, games around the family table in the barn, and time spent with the people she loved most. She believed life was meant to be lived fully, joy was meant to be shared freely, and love was something best demonstrated through presence.

Those who knew Jana will remember many things: her steadfast strength, her unmistakable smile, her creativity, and her deep faith. But perhaps her greatest gift was simpler than all of those. She made people feel seen. She left them feeling heard, encouraged, valued, and loved. She didn’t try to make people more like herself; she simply helped them become more fully themselves. That is the legacy she leaves behind, and it will continue to shape her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her for generations to come.

Jana is survived by her loving husband, Scott; her children, Caley and Caleb; her eight beloved grandchildren; her siblings, Shauna Comber, Kelly Sheehan, and Darby Sheehan; and many extended family members and dear friends who will miss her deeply.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at North Metro Church, 12505 Colorado Blvd., Thornton, CO 80241, with a reception immediately following at the family’s property, Clayton Farms, 14683 Cherry St., Brighton, CO 80602.

Jana was a vibrant woman who brought warmth, joy, and light wherever she went. In honor of her beautiful spirit, our family will be celebrating her life with bright colors instead of traditional black. If you feel led, we invite you to join us by wearing cheerful colors such as yellow, purple, or white as we celebrate the remarkable life she lived.

If Jana touched your life in any way, we would be honored to have you join us as we celebrate a woman whose faith, strength, kindness, and love left the world better than she found it.