Obituary of Janet H Owen

Janet Owen, age 74, passed away at Morristown Memorial Hospital on Saturday, July 11, 2015, of complications arising from a sudden pulmonary embolism. Born September 17, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Omer and Martha (aka Marie) Huber, she was graduated from Ohio State University in 1962 receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude. Janet was an elementary school teacher for decades, during which she principally taught kindergarten. Janet lived in Gainesville, Florida with her first husband, Kenneth Joyce, who died of a brain tumor in 1966. Their only child, Suzanne Joyce, was born in Gainesville in 1963. After her husband’s death, Janet and Suzanne relocated to Westerville, Ohio to be close to family. Janet married her loving husband of forty years, Graham Owen, in 1974. Janet, Graham and Suzanne relocated to Boonton Township, NJ in 1979. Janet was a devoted mother to her daughter, Suzanne, who was born with Cystic Fibrosis. It is in no small measure due to Janet’s care and love that Suzanne is alive today, long past the median life expectancy of those born with CF. Janet was an avid birder, a lover of nature, and a natural with children. Countless five year olds learned their basic life skills from Janet’s patience, common sense, grace, and unceasing caring. After retiring in 2005, Janet split her time between New Jersey and Naples, Florida. But Janet never stopped giving – making sure to offer her experience and wisdom to underprivileged children served by Grace Place – a faith based pre-school devoted to helping a primarily low income Spanish-speaking community outside Naples. Church was always an integral part of Janet’s life. She sang in the Church Choir both at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Dover and the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Naples. Janet will be especially remembered for her ready smile, giving nature, and unassuming way. Janet had legions of friends that remained with her through life -- from college, church, the schools she taught at, and the charities at which she volunteered. Janet is survived by her husband Graham, her daughter Suzanne Joyce and her husband Steven Barshov, her sister Nancy Gardiner, and her brother Dale Huber. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at Tuttle Funeral Home, 272 Route 10, Randolph, (www.tuttlefh.com). Services will be held at 2:30 pm on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 123 East Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ. Relatives and friends are welcome at the service and the reception immediately following, which will be held at a location to be announced at the service. Memorial contributions to Grace Place are welcome in lieu of flowers and should be donated through their website at www.graceplacenaples.org. .