Rotz made sure things were in place for her kids
By Matthew Stolle
mstolle@postbulletin.com
Janeane Rotz, a Rochester mother of four who was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer and was the subject of two front-page stories in the Rochester Post-Bulletin, died Tuesday at Rochester Methodist Hospital. She was 38.
After being diagnosed with the fatal disease, Rotz approached her remaining months with the attitude that although she might die soon, "she was going to give it her all, either way," her mother Pat Alland said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Her top priority was providing for her children: Michael I. Kranz, Aric D. Kranz, Zachary D. Rotz and Brittany E. Rotz.
"Towards the end, when she was in the hospital, all the things were in place for their future," Alland said.
The donations she received have been placed in a college trust fund for her children.
Memorials are suggested to Gift of Janeane Fund, in care of Mayo Clinic Credit Union.
As her condition became more widely known, Rotz became the recipient of a communitywide outpouring of sympathy and donations from both friends and those who knew her only through the media.
Friends helped arrange a family trip to Disney World for her and her children. A fund-raiser was held for Rotz at the North Star Bar in Rochester that Rotz described as the ultimate "me party."
A fund-raiser organized by a teenager resulted in donations of $313 and a letter from one child who wrote, "I hope this is the best tip you ever received."
Rotz had worked at the Ranch Family Restaurant for 20 years. She also was employed at Mayo Clinic.
ADVERTISEMENT
Alland said her daughter was "pretty much overwhelmed by the depth of everyone's concern and caring. In that respect, she was changed forever just by people's goodness."
"She was a very good person -- always," Alland said.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Macken Colonial Chapel.
Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and an hour before the service Saturday at the funeral home.
