Trinity Broadcasting's Jan Crouch dies days after stroke

ORLANDO, Fla. — Televangelist Jan Crouch, who co-founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network with her husband more than four decades ago, died Tuesday just days after she suffered a stroke, her family said on the network’s website

Crouch, instantly recognizable for her mountain of blonde hair, warm smile and long eyelashes, was 78.

Her family made the aouncement Tuesday on the Califoia-based Trinity Broadcasting Network’s website.

“Viewers of the Trinity Broadcasting Network knew her as someone who partnered with Paul Crouch in the launch and expansion of TBN, and as someone who came into their homes for over 40 years,” Matt Crouch, her son and TBN’s president, said in a written statement. “To thousands of orphans around the world, and those orphaned in spirit, she was Momma Jan, quick with a smile, a gift, and a word of encouragement.”

A spokesman for the network didn’t immediately retu a phone call.

Jan and Paul Crouch started the network in 1973 by renting air time on independent Califoia stationS, first in Ontario and then Fontana. Trinity officials say its programming is now carried by over 5,000 television stations. TBN bills itself as the world’s largest Christian television network.

The network aounced last week that Jan Crouch had suffered a stroke in the Orlando area, where TBN owns the Holy Land Experience theme park.

Paul Crouch died in 2013.

A year before his death, The New York Times chronicled the lavish living of Paul and Jan Crouch with ministry money. Their lifestyle, according to the newspaper, included multiples homes, corporate jets and thousand-dollar diers.

At the time, their attoey said the expenses were used to benefit TBN, which eas money from viewer donations, airtime sales and investments.