Janet Ann Trenda

Janet Trenda (nee Campbell) passed away peacefully at home on September 5, 2023 with her loving husband Cory at her side.

Janet was born in 1955 in Indianapolis to Robert Campbell and Leticia (Webb) Campbell. She married her high school sweetheart, Cory Trenda in Overland Park, Kansas, on February 22, 1973. Janet and Cory started their family early, and welcomed son Ben in 1973 and daughter Karey in 1975. After Cory’s university graduation and once her children were in school, Janet started her own college studies, receiving her Associates degree in Human Biology from Harper College in the Chicago area and attracting scholarships to continue her study of nutrition. While this remained a passionate avocation, a health breakdown led Janet to take a college hiatus after the family’s move to California.

Instead of continuing her studies, Janet helped launch Alternate Avenues, a nonprofit organization supporting young women in unplanned pregnancies (as she had personally experienced), becoming Executive Director within a few short months. She served in that role for 7 years before going on to serve for 14 more on the board and as board chair of Heartbeat International, a network of 3,000 affiliated pregnancy help locations, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies on 6 continents. Janet was recently named as one of just ten “Legacy Board Members” over the past 50 years, for her impact and years of service. These experiences fostered in Janet a passion for walking alongside people, especially during times of difficulty and loss. In fact, she later became a certified spiritual director.

In addition to her own career, she worked alongside her husband, Cory, in his decades with World Vision, one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations, focused on alleviating poverty around the world. Janet was an integral part of several Vision Trip teams, often emerging as the spiritual team leader and making many lasting friendships around the world.

Janet was the heart of her family and an extraordinary gift-giver. She adored being a grandma and great-grandma. She loved making each ones’ favorite dessert on their birthdays, especially her carrot cake! Janet lived her life in service to others, making them feel valued and seeing their unique gifts. Everyone who knew her knew they were loved.

She and Cory enjoyed travel and exchanging homes around the world, as much as they loved their back patio garden and playing bocce ball in the grass around their condo. Music was a central feature of their lives, and Janet was a consummate harmonizer, both in music and in life. Her memory lives on in the beauty she created for her family and community.

Preceded in death by both her parents and her sister, Nancy (Campbell) Merkling, Janet is survived by her adoring husband of 50 years, Cory Trenda, her son Ben (Jessica Kruskamp) Trenda, her daughter Karey (Thomas) Sabol, grandchildren Eden (Tony Hodnick) Trenda, Emmy (Cesar) Jerez, Taylor (Sarah Boruszak) Trenda, Samuel Trenda, Laith Sabol, and great-grandchildren Maxine Hodnick, Miles Hodnick, George Hodnick, and Eleanor Jerez, along with her loving extended family (including nieces Melissa and Megan, and brothers-in-law Robin, Tomaj and Ritch) and a close group of friends and neighbors around the world.

A celebration of Janet’s life will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, October 14 outdoors on the Pavilion at the Bridge Church, 29582 Aventura, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688. In lieu of flowers, Janet has requested donations to these causes that were very dear to her:

Heartbeat International, an affiliation of over 3000 pregnancy help centers around the globe, where she serve on the Board and as Board Chair for a combined 14 years:

https://www.heartbeatinternational.org/memory-Janet-Trenda

World Vision’s Empowered Worldview program, which we saw in all its wonderful glory in Zambia this May:

https://mycause.worldvision.org/event/janettrenda

Our dear Janet, thank you for being “God with skin on” for all of us. Your sweet spirit lives on in each of us.