Janine Francoise Peters
1935 - 2021

Janine Francoise Peters (nee Vartanian), of La Jolla, California died peacefully of natural causes on August 20, 2021. Janine was born January 8, 1935 in Lyon, France and often recounted the childhood memory of hiding in bunkers to evade the bombs from Hitler's invading army and how her father secretly served in the French Resistance.

After begging her parents to send her to America, they relented and she arrived in Long Beach at the age of 14 to live with an aunt, where she had to learn a new language while negotiating the trials and tribulations of teenage years in a strange new land.

At 19, Janine was introduced to Harold George Peters, MD, a thoracic surgeon who hailed from a family with deep roots in Fresno. They married (she sewed her own wedding gown) and thereafter had four children together.

Janine was an independent woman who challenged her times by learning to fly; managing her husband's practice; being an avid sports fan (Anaheim Angels and Rams), and devoting time to many volunteer activities, while running a busy household.

She was an unapologetic patriot and loved the United States unconditionally; displaying the American flag at every opportunity. She was devoted to the Red Cross, recalling how they prevented her family from starving during the war and she was later honored by them for her fifty years of service. Janine was beautiful, smart, feisty and talented, but she will be remembered by all for her extraordinary generosity to family and friends.

She is survived by her four children: Bryan, Dyanna, Daniel and Greg and six grandchildren: Adam, Samantha, Drake, Emily, Sydney and Abigail, all of whom will miss her terribly.