Janette Gorman Obituary

Janette Marie Gorman, 67, of Cedar Rapids, passed away unexpectedly on July 14, 2025, at UnityPoint Hospital. A visitation will be held on Sunday, July 20, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel Stateroom. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, July 21, 2025, at Faith Bible Church in Cedar Rapids. Burial will follow the service and take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Janette was born on May 3, 1958, in Cedar Rapids to John and Judy Palumbo. A lifelong resident of the area, she graduated from Regis High School. After graduation, she studied horse husbandry at Kirkwood Community College. Later in life, she returned to Kirkwood to earn an associate's degree in dental technology.
In 1978, she married Phillip Gorman. The two shared a deep bond and built a life together in Alburnett, where they raised their family and lived from 1985 to 2012. They were avid cyclists and kayakers, and frequently took advantage of Eastern Iowa's beautiful rivers, lakes, and trails. Like her husband, Janette was very involved in her children's extracurricular activities; she never hesitated to volunteer at wrestling tournaments and other sporting events.
Janette also had a long and varied career, holding jobs in manufacturing, agriculture, and research and development. Throughout her career, Janette's coworkers recognized her adaptability, quiet perseverance, and dedication to whatever role she took on. Yet the role she took most seriously was that of caretaker-first to her children, and later to her husband during the final years of his life. Her unwavering sense of duty to her loved ones guided her through even the most difficult times.
She spent her free time gathering with family and friends. She was usually instrumental in planning these social events, from summer holidays at the cabin on the Wapsi to meeting up with friends for music in the park. Her nieces and nephews-and eventually their children-were a constant source of happiness for her. "Aunt Nettie," as they affectionately called her, always stayed informed about their activities and visited or hosted them as much as possible.
Animals also brought Janette much joy. As anyone who accompanied her to an outdoor event can attest, her goal in life was to pet all the dogs. She was also fond of her feline friends and regularly volunteered to work with some particularly difficult kitties at Last Hope Animal Rescue.
She is remembered with love and respect by her sons: Daniel (Danielle) of Phoenix, Arizona; Thomas (Julia) of Washington, D.C.; and Matthew of Cedar Rapids; her mother, Judy Palumbo-Sherman of Cedar Rapids; her sisters and their spouses: Jeanice (Greg) Blood of Center Point, Julie (Clark) Harberts of Loudon, Tennessee, and Joyce Svoboda of Vinton; her beloved nieces and nephews: Andrea (Rod) McDowell, Kyle (Holly) Blood, Zach (Amanda) Svoboda, Stephanie (Jake) Mizell, Shelby (Michael) Green, and Hannah (Tristan) McGill; Her great-nieces and great-nephews include Carson, Kroy, Maeve, Malachai, Uriah, Zion, Titus, Ori, George, and Adalyn. She is also survived by her beloved dog, Jordyn, and two cats, Lacy and Slim.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Phil Gorman, and her father, John Palumbo.
Memorials may be directed to Last Hope Animal Rescue or Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids.