Part of the Family

When I was a little girl in the early to mid 1970s, Jan and Marcy's weekends at their cottage were novel to me. We made weekly ventures to the laundromat at the Lake Street Plaza and the doughnut shop nearby. Afterward, we would come back to the cottage to hang up the laundry and then go inside for lunch, which generally consisted of a variety of cold cuts, cheeses and breads. We would spend hours at the lake. The beach snack of choice was Goldfish crackers! (Jan even had a Goldfish beach towel--maybe one of her rebate rewards?)

Amy snacking at the Rowans'

Jan loved to tell the story of me writing my own permission slip. You see, it was the rule that I bring a note from my mother when I visited, so Jan would be assured that my mother knew where I was. One day I arrived with a piece of paper full of scribbles--I had written my own note! So she walked me back home so my mom wouldn't be left to worry where I went.

When I was in high school, Jan was in her rebate heyday. She was always going to Wegmans and bringing my mother home any groceries that she requested. On at least one occasion, Jan picked up some feminine products for me. I put the bag in my closet and promptly forgot about it. Mom mentioned that Jan had purchased a rutabaga on this same shopping trip, but did not come home with it. I hadn't seen it--and what was a rutabaga, anyway? That Jan, she was always eating exotic vegetables and fruits. Weeks went by. One day, I looked in the bag in the closet and discovered a strange round vegetable. The missing rutabaga!

Evan's 8th birthday (1984), Jan and Amy looking on

While Jan was our next-door neighbor, she was also part of the family. She was always there to help celebrate birthdays and other special events. Growing up, she was someone I saw practically every day. She stopped at the house to have a cup of coffee or to exchange mail, groceries or library books. During her Florida years, she drove my grandmother, Jessie Hoffman, to and from Florida, with stops in North Carolina to visit Bob and Susan, my uncle and aunt. In 2001, after I bought my house, Jan showed up at the sprucing-up work bee, with a spade in hand, ready to plant flowers! For my last two birthdays, Jan donated to the Humane Society in my honor. I should mention that my dog is named Rowan and Jan always liked to tell Rowan that she was her namesake.

We will miss you Jan!

Love,
Amy

A Neighbor, A Friend

Jan was a neighbor and friend to many of us on Anthony and Anthony Beach Roads. We will never forget all the fun times we had at the lake and at Donna's get-togethers. We enjoyed ourselves whether it was a great party or just visiting and having a cup of coffee.

My memories of Jan go back as far as 1978. She was still teaching and came to Seneca Lake on the weekends. I always thought that Jan was the smartest (book smart) person I had ever met. If I couldn't help Chad or Brett with their school work, we would go to Jan for help. She knew all the "teacher tricks" and was glad to help out. She was always pleasant with a smile on her face. She would have us laughing with her stories of her classroom and students.

I was one of the customers at the "Jan Store" that Evan spoke about. We would stock up when it was time for Chad and Brett to return to college.

Jan saw the good in everyone she met and accepted people for who they were. She could always find something positive to say.

I spent a little time with Jan a couple weeks ago when Donna had Jan, Marcy, John and Jackson down for dinner and also invited Alan and I. Jan was pretty weak and spent most of the afternoon on Donna's couch. Even though she was so sick, she still made conversation with me about my grandchildren, knowing they are near and dear to my heart. As we talked, her precious Jackson played nearby with a bunch of matchbox cars. She told me Jackson was in first grade. Her love for this little guy showed in her eyes. I'm sure Jackson will miss his grandmother a lot.

I will miss Jan and I know her other friends will too. It was an honor to call Jan my friend. Rest in peace, sweet Jan.

-- Joyce Del Rossa

With Donna and Joyce @ the Moose

As I sit here and reflect on my friendship with Jan, many words come to mind… friendly, understanding, funny, compassionate and intelligent.

When I first moved to Anthony Beach, she was there to welcome me into my new little community. She helped guide me to make important decisions in my life, one of which was to start teaching, by encouraging me to begin substitute teaching here in Penn Yan. The rest is history; I am still teaching full time after 18 years.

I do fondly remember shopping in her store. She even did home deliveries for me once my children were born.

Speaking of children, one of the special moments I had with Jan was the day I went into labor with my daughter Katy. It was a beautiful fall day in October and Donna and Jan spent time with me walking up and down Anthony Beach, trying to get things started for me. I will never forget that day! Jan was so excited to have a new baby in the neighborhood.

Since that day, I never saw Jan more excited than having Jackson come into her life. I didn’t see Jan much after Jackson was born, but I knew in my heart why. She beamed with happiness as she told stories of her grandson.

Glenn, Katy, Travis and I will hold Jan warmly in our hearts. The drive by her house will now and forever bring up fond memories of a very special and kind lady. She was always there for me when I needed to hear her words of wisdom. I know somehow her wisdom will always be here among us.

-- Karen Groet

The Jan Store

During the ’80s, it seemed like our cupboards, pantry and bathroom closet were mostly stocked with items that had been stripped of their UPC codes. Jan at work!

Jan was Rebate Queen (coupons too). She kept on top of the best rebates and dutifully collected UPC codes to mail in for the rewards. Plus she made the most of Wegmans back when they used to double coupons.

It was almost a community project, for the neighbors got involved too. She tended to buy more than she needed (e.g., buy 3, get 1/whatever quantity needed for the rebates) and ended up with the surplus she stowed in one of the bedrooms. So, if any of the neighbors were running out of shampoo or toiletries or whatever, it was off to the Jan Store to check stock and make purchases at her discount prices, snagging those packages that had been de-UPC-ed by Jan’s razor blade. Jan kept logs of her rebate activities, in notebook after carefully organized notebook, to keep track of ones she sent in and those for which she got the check.

Not only a hobby for her, I guess it was like a sport to score those deals and get the bonuses in the mail. Plus extra visits from the neighbors to shop her store!

I don’t think she quite made her fortune at it, but it was quite the enterprise in her rebating heyday.

-- Evan

Janno

JANNO....somewhere in my younger life with my mom I decided to be a smarty pants & call her Jan or Janet instead of MOM. Somehow the name Jan got turned into Janno & it stuck. and so the title....LIFE WITH JANNO

My mom was filled with life. She never let the little stuff get her down. She lived life just how she wanted to. She welcomed everyone into her home. She loved me, my husband & my son with all her heart. We were a great team! I hope she leaves that legacy to us as she moves on from this life.

My other wish is that everyone else leaves a little piece of her with us in the form of pictures, anecdotes, stories, lists (she LOVED lists!), etc. You can leave memories here as a blog, or send me an email , send written word via snail mail or bring some cookies (jackson will especially love that) & share some joyful times with us in person. All memories, no matter how big or small, will help her live on & heal our broken hearts.

She would not want us to be sad! She wants everyone to reflect on happy memories together as she passes on.

Janno....will be missed.