Janez Lizabeth Hamilton

Janez Lizabeth Hamilton (Buffington) passed away peacefully on February 3, 2019 at the age of 72. Janez touched many lives and leaves a legacy of deep caring and quiet understanding.
Janez, (Jannie) was born in Jacksonville Florida on July 28, 1946, alongside her twin brother Randy to James and Inez (Chertudi) Hamilton. The family moved to Rockport, Indiana then to Evansville, where she spent her early childhood years. Following the death of her father, the family moved to Boise, as her mother Inez brought Janez and Randy home to their Basque roots. Janez graduated from Borah High School (1964) and Boise Junior College (1966) earning her nursing certificate. She worked in Denver and San Francisco before returning to Boise to work as an ICU nurse in St. Luke’s, the VA and in Home Health. Janez married Bill Buffington in 1986 and her family became complete with Mike and Jon. She and Bill later divorced in 2016. Janez’s caring heart always took care of people, from the inside out, and in 1989 her heart led her into the profession of counseling. She earned a Masters in Counseling from Northwest Nazerene University and started her own private counseling practice, and forged the idea of integrative health when she joined a group of healthcare providers in one practice (Integrative Health). Janez worked in her counseling practice until March 2017, when she had a stroke. Janez filled many roles in her life as a mother, godmother, wife, friend, advisor, aunt, sister and daughter. Her love of books, conversation, friends and movies was well known to all who were lucky enough to know her. Janez was never afraid of tough conversations, deep listening, spiritual exploration, and quiet caring.

She is survived by her two children, Mike (Andra) Buffington and Jon (Sara Jo) Buffington and her grand-children Cruz and Quinn. She had a profound impact on her nieces Jeannie Blokker, Jamie Boesiger and Jill Livengood and their families. She is also survived by her sister in-law Linda Hamilton. Services will be held to celebrate her life on February 27th at 11:00 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church followed by internment at Morris Hill Cemetery. We will always hold Janez/Jannie/Amuma/Mom in a special quiet place in our hearts. We are comforted in knowing she has been joined with Inez, James and Randy.

“Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life.”
In Lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Idaho Humane Society.