In Memory of Janne Eller-Isaacs (1953-2024)

The Ministries and Faith Development staff offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Janne Eller-Isaacs who died on February 14, 2024, at the age of 71.

Janne was born on February 4, 1953, in Tulsa, OK to C.B. Eller and Linda M. Eller. She was born and raised at the bosom of All Souls’ Church in Tulsa, OK. Her parents’ social life revolved around the church. The church housed a wide variety of inter-generational events and provided a real community for those of all ages. The families in church created an extensive extended family network. Within its embrace, Janne was loved and challenged and never taken for granted. In school, she was involved with sports and was the President of her class.

Janne went to the College of San Mateo, CA, then a year’s cruise with Chapman College, CA, and to the University of California, Berkeley graduating in 1975 with her Bachelor of Arts in psychology. After graduation, she worked in a residential treatment center for chronic schizophrenics for three years. She received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, MA in 1979. In the same year, she married Rob Isaacs, a Unitarian minister, and they became the Eller-Isaacs. From 1979 to 1982, Janne worked as a consultant to the Unitarian Universalist Church Youth Program and as a therapist/staff counselor in private practice from 1980 to 1982.

In 1982, the Eller-Isaacs moved to Northern California following which Janne felt a call to ministry. The vision of inter-generational inter-connectedness was imprinted on her life. She wanted to offer a sense of community and connection because her church community always made her feel safe, loved, and nurtured. She entered Starr King School for the Ministry with the sense that it was where she belonged. In 1986, she graduated with her Master of Divinity from Starr King and in 2006 received an honorary Sacrae Theologiae Doctor.

Rev. Eller-Isaacs was ordained by the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, CA on April 5, 1987. With her husband Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs, she served as a co-minister at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, CA (1986-2000) where Janne worked closely with the RE committee to facilitate and accommodate the growth of the RE program. She led a team of writers in creating the original curriculum for the K-6 program and oversaw its implementation. She also led several Adult RE courses. The children in the congregation felt loved and appreciated by her. Revs. Eller-Isaacs worked to achieve and maintain a real partnership that supported and encouraged dreams, vision, and a sense of the prophetic and the holy. They helped the church grow from a small, dying urban church to a thriving congregation with a respected voice in the community; conducted a major capital campaign, and completed phase one of a reconstruction and restoration project.

In 2000 the Revs. Eller-Isaacs were called to the Unity Church, Unitarian in St. Paul, MN, and served as co-ministers until 2021 where they both supported faith within, among, and beyond the congregation. Together the Revs. Eller-Isaacs embodied ministry as a shared practice by implementing outreach ministry teams, a worship associates’ program, and cultivated a lay-led lifespan religious education program. They guided a capital campaign to renovate the church to make it welcoming and accessible to the larger community. In 2021, the Unity Church Unitarian honored Rev. Eller Isaacs as their minister emerita.

Rev. Eller-Isaacs’ availability, openness, and responsiveness to people on a personal level were a true gift to the community. She brought into her ministry a passionate commitment to Unitarian Universalism. She was active and supportive of the UUMA activities serving as Vice President of the UUMA Chapter (1986-1988 &1997-1999).  She designed Clergy training for the UUMA and UUA (1992-1995); served the UUMA continental executive committee (1993-1995) and was a planner for the Refugio Annual Retreat (PCD and PSWD). She served on the board of the Holdeen Project; was the ministerial settlement representative for nine years for the PCD, helped eighteen congregations in their search process, and consulted several congregations in transition. Furthermore, she was a member of the UUA President’s International Advisory Council and an adjunct faculty for Starr King (1997). She supervised over 20 interns throughout her career.  In 1999, she received the Unsung Hero Award for the Pacific Central District. Likewise, both Revs. Rob and Jane Eller-Isaacs were the 2021 Berry Street Essayists.

Janne was a board member of the Center for Urban Family Life (1996) and had extensive training in Neo-Reichian Body Work, Gestalt/Feminist Therapy, and pastoral counseling.

In her leisure time, she enjoyed hiking, travel, pleasure reading, and time with her family. Her call to parenting was as compelling as her call to ministry. She was dedicated to her children.

Janne is survived by her son Jonah; daughters: Jessie (Andy), and Hannah (Tim); grandchildren: Lewis, Mira, Levi, and Benjamin; brothers: David (Abby), Jim (Jeannie), John (Margy) as well as her beloved nephews and a niece. She was preceded in death by her husband Rob (2022).

The first memorial service was held on April 27, 2024, at 3 pm (PDT) at the First Unitarian Portland, 1211 SW Main St. Portland, OR 97205; and the second memorial service is being planned at Unity Church-Unitarian, 733 Portland Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 at 3 pm (CDT) on May 11, 2024. Livestream for Minnesota service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Unity Church- Unitarian and the UUMA.

Notes of condolences may be sent to Hannah Franco-Isaacs, 4770 NE Going St, Portland, OR 97218.