Jana Lee Westerman

Jana Lee Westerman, 68, passed away on May 2, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born on February 9, 1958 to Don and Alfreda Giles. She married Donald James Westerman in Lake Tahoe on August 7, 1984, and they were together until his death on July 29, 2009. In her later years, her close companion was Rick Hopkins. Jan lived as a mountain woman in Tabiona where she was happy to be close to her mom. She was so proud of her yard and loved to plant flowers and plants. There would be new decorations outside every time we’d visit, like Christmas lights lining her porch in July. The inside of her house was just as eccentric as the outside. There were trinkets in every nook and cranny, and she was able to showcase her artistic talent with a mural she recently painted on her pantry door. She was always looking for ways to make her house more colorful. Jan had close relationships with her kids, especially her son Zach. Her daughters would tease that he was the favorite child, and he really was. They were partners in crime and understood each other in ways no one else truly could. She always had his back, and she loved him so much. She loved all her grandkids unconditionally. She would get so excited when they came to visit her, and she loved to show them off to everyone. Yet as proud as she was of her grandchildren, they are even prouder to call her Grandma. She was atypical in all the best ways and frequently described as the “Cool Grandma” to friends. Jan loved spending time and helping with her late grandsons Drew and Noah. She put water all over her daughter Leisha’s floors so the boys could see what it was like to be at a waterpark sliding around the kitchen floor in their wheelchairs. She was always patient and helpful, and the boys enjoyed their time with Grandma. Her great-grandchild Karson was one of her favorite people. Karson lovingly knew her as “GG” and got to have a spa and movie night with her right before she passed. Jan also cherished spending time with her great-nephews and niece -Jexden, Watson, Keenan, and Wakely- and loved them as if they were her own grandchildren. Wakely would call her “Jam” and they would have a tea party together every day. Jan lived her life with a free spirit. She understood the importance of not taking yourself too seriously and was the life of every party. She was so quick to give love and was very loved by friends and family in return. Jan was a prime example of how joy can be found, and kindness can be given even in a life full of immense hardship. Her radiant energy and trademark peace signs will be greatly missed, but our family is comforted knowing she is reunited with her grandsons and many others. Her special soul will forever be loved and remembered. Jana is preceded in death by her father Don Giles, spouse Donny Westerman, grandchildren Drew and Noah Roberts, son-in-law Corey Roberts, and siblings Karen, Dalene, Don, and Connie. She is survived by mother Alfreda Giles, sisters Lorna and Patti, children Leisha Roberts (Josh), Traci Aragon (Andrew), Keri Gould (Jesse), and Zach Westerman (Katy), grandchildren Trevin, Alexis, Isabel, Sara, Zoe, Mariah, and Zakiyah, and great-grandchild Karson. There will be a celebration for Jan on June 14, 2026 at 2pm at her childhood home, 992 Tally Ho St. Salt Lake City, UT 84116.

Jana Lee Westerman

February 9, 1958 - May 2, 2026