Janet Joyce (Wildman) Andre

Janet Joyce Andre was born in Ames, Iowa on August 2, 1945, She was the daughter of the late Robert Oliver Wildman and Ruby Skartvedt Wildman. Her husband of 59 years Richard Andre, son Michael Andre, son Gregory Andre, sister Gretchen Finn, and brother John Wildman survive her.

Music, singing, and performing were essential to her during her life. She was blessed with a beautiful alto voice many found angelic. Whenever she sang, she wanted to bring some joy to whomever was listening, be it a couple in a restaurant celebrating their anniversary or to an audience of two hundred. Her first solo “Jesus Loves Me” was in church as a young child. During high school, she sang with various small high school and university jazz groups. When she was fifteen, she and the HS jazz group won first place in the Iowa State Fair talent show. While obtaining her Bachelor of Music degree at North Texas State University, she was the lead soloist for the One O’clock Jazz Band, as well as singing with a professional jazz group. While in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for four years, she sang in various musicals like “Hello, Dolly!” and directed a choir. While living in Bangkok, Thailand for six years, she sang in church choirs and performed in various musicals. She was the lead in the musical “Anything Goes.”  She produced and starred in an hour-long show entitled “An Evening with Janet Andre,” which was attended by several hundred people.

The American Ambassador hired Janet and a wonderful pianist to present American Music to important dinner parties at his residence, as well as traveling around the region as part of a cultural presentation. During her afternoons, she taught private piano lessons to forty young students. Later while living in the Washington D.C, area, she sang with the National Cathedral Adult Choir. During her time recently in Chapel Hill, NC, she helped produce and sing in several performances at the Governors Club. Throughout her singing career, she would practice each song for hours to ensure that she knew every note and lyric without the need for sheet music in front of her, as well as ensuring perfect enunciation regardless of the European language.

She was also active in her church choir at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and firmly believed in her Christian faith. Beyond her music, she was extremely successful in the business world. Her boss from Marriott asked her to work for him in the newly formed Carlyle Group. She was their first employee and handled all the administrative duties needed to start and build out the first office in Washington DC.  Eventually, she was promoted to Managing Director and Head of Global Administration. Working with an architect, she was closely involved in the establishment of over forty new offices in the USA and the world (Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, the Middle East, Russia, and South Africa). Her offices always reflected a unique Carlyle elegance. She excelled in planning, organization, and allowing her wonderful staff to do their jobs.

These same characteristics carried over to her planning for small dinner parties and lengthy vacations with her husband to new places. She loved to go on Tauck river cruises in Europe and to explore Italian cities. She always tried to be kind to people and was always giving small gifts to people involved in her life, such as fellow choir members, medical staff, the gardener’s family, and friends.

Her Christian Celebration of Life will be held at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 2016 Mt. Carmel Church Road, Chapel Hill, NC on May 23 at 2pm. A graveside service will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.

Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Andre Family.