Obituary of Jeanene Rae Armitage

Jeanene was born early the morning of Easter Sunday, April 18, 1954, the first-born of Robert (“Bob”) and Pauline Williams. The family lived in outer southeast Portland where she attended local schools in the David Douglas School District.

In 1969, the family, which now included brothers Brian and Kent, moved to a much larger home in Portland’s Westmoreland neighborhood. Jeanene, now a sophomore, attended Grover Cleveland High School (graduating in 1972). The 1st person she connected with at Cleveland was Karen Major, a friend she had known since her birth on July 14, 1954. From that time on, the two were “sisters”.

Jeanene’s working career began at Waverly Country Club while she was still in high school. More schooling followed at Portland Community College, training as a Chairside Dental Assistant. After working in this field for a year or so, she decided this wasn’t the career for her. Several years of office jobs followed before she was hired by North Pacific Supply (NorPac). She remained there until the company suddenly ceased operations in 2013.

In 1982, Jeanene married Steven Armitage. They remained friends after an amicable divorce and she, with Steve’s consent, kept the Armitage name.

In 1990, Jeanene became associated with the Kendall Group of A.A. She was well-known throughout this community for her unwavering dedication and to their Outreach Program. It was through Jeanene’s A.A. involvement that she met John Di Peri, thus beginning a 25-year relationship. Though never married, they lived together, always supporting and caring for each other through both good times and bad times.

While still employed at NorPac, Jeanene picked up the “travel bug” from her parents. Jeanene especially enjoyed cruises and visited Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Alaska. She celebrated her 50th birthday in Spain, traveling with her parents and brother Kent. No longer working after 2013, Jeanene and her mother took many cruises & trips, both in the U.S. as well as abroad.

A diagnosis of cancer came to Jeanene in Novermber 2018. It was in her pancreas; shortly thereafter she began chemo treatments at Providence Cancer Center in N.E. Portland. A planned surgery in May of 2019 had to be aborted after it was found that the cancer had metastasized to the liver. Additional treatment was tried, but to no avail. Jeanene chose to go on “at home” hospice care. She passed away the morning of December 19, 2019, with John holding her hand.

The family especially wants to thank John and Karen for all of their loving care they gave to Jeanene during the last year of her life.

Jeanene was preceded in death by her father, Bob Williams, in 2010. She is survived by her mother Pauline; brothers Brian (Angela) and Kent (Sheila); partner John Di Peri; niece Jordan Williams; as well as several uncles, aunts, and cousins. All will miss her terribly.

The previously scheduled Celebration of Life has been postponed; a new date will be announced.

In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the Providence Cancer Center or to any local chapter of A.A. in Jeanene’s memory.