Janina Ridgway

May 1, 1934 – July 26, 2025

Janina Ridgway, beloved mother, grandmother, and artist, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2025, in Johns Creek, Georgia, at the age of 91.

Born in Mazeikiai, Lithuania, Janina’s early life was marked by both beauty and resilience. From a young age, she found joy in sketching the landscapes and animals of her homeland. At just 8 years old, she was forced to flee during the communist invasion and spent the remainder of World War II in various labor camps across Germany. Despite these hardships, Janina’s passion for art never wavered. She studied art while living in Germany during the American occupation and later immigrated to Chicago, where she met and married her husband.

Throughout her life, Janina used her art to process the world around her—from the haunting images of war to the shifting culture of the 1960s. Though she paused painting to focus on raising her children, she returned to her craft later in life. After the loss of her husband in 2009, Janina rediscovered her creative voice. Living at Alta, she began painting once again, this time with a renewed sense of color, emotion, and freedom, even as Parkinson’s disease changed how she created.

Her art reflects a remarkable personal journey—through war, motherhood, loss, and healing—with nature and beauty always at its center.

Janina is survived by her daughter Andrea Ridgway, her son Lawrence Ridgway, and four granddaughters: Stephanie Shoap, Rachel Shoap, Lauren Ridgway, and Morgan Ridgway.

A small family gathering will be held to celebrate her life. Flowers and kind thoughts are appreciated and may be shared on the memorial website.

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