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
Thanks for adding new stuff....I feel like she's still alive as long as people keep adding! It keeps her memory strong!
ReplyDeleteWhen I met Jan for the first time, I met Marty too. Marty was in his glory, having new customers for his old stories. I remember looking over at Jan, mid-Marty story, and she had a bemused smirk on her face and rolled her eyes for my benefit. I don’t claim to have known her well, but have a sense that she winked at the world.
ReplyDeleteI went to visit Marcy shortly after I started at the University of Rochester and had a great conversation with Jan about her years as a student there in the mid 1950s. She was there during an interesting time, as they had just implemented a re-merging of the male and female students on the River Campus. Jan talked about life in the newly construction Women’s Residence Halls, now known as Susan B. (Anthony)
The best part was her telling of the dorm rules. The women had curfews and had to sign in and out. Men were only allowed in the lounge on the main floor. When students came back from dates, they had until curfew to sit in the lounge. There was all this passion going on, but all had to keep one foot on the floor at all times. There were “house mothers” roaming the building to enforce the rules.
By the time Marcy and I got to the U of R, Susan B. was co-ed by random room, so hearing how it had been just 30 years earlier was a revelation. While Jan understood the changing times well, she also articulated what has been lost along the way. There was an intimacy and great camaraderie in the all-girls dorm as well as elegance in the more formal dating system of the day that our era has never had.
Despite all our technological advances, we still know very little about the “sweet hereafter”. One doctor who was on the cover of Newsweek a few weeks ago is trying to change that:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/10/07/proof-of-heaven-a-doctor-s-experience-with-the-afterlife.html
It is a good story - I hope he is right and that I get to see Janno on the other side.