Due to her father’s job working on rural power grids with Virginia Power, the family moved around a lot in her early years, finally settling in Richmond where she graduated from Freeman High School. It was at Freeman High where she met her lifelong friend Theresa Elders. Following high school she attained her undergraduate degree from Mary Washington, followed by her masters in education from The University of Virginia.

Her career in education began in Waynesboro, where she taught English in the public schools. She found her true calling when she moved to Palmyra, and took her first job as a guidance counselor. She would later move to Ledyard, Conn., where she worked at Ledyard High School as a guidance director beginning in 1994 and lasting until her retirement in 2007. After retiring she went to work for Norwich Adult Education until 2015.

In 2005 she met the love of her life, Ken Lewis, who went on to become her husband. Ken retired in 2015 just as Janice did and that is where the adventures begin. They acquired beloved puppy “Tuggy” and spent a year on their boat sailing up and down the ICW from Mystic, Conn., to Key West. They would take the boat to Savannah in the winter and then back up the Chesapeake in the summer. However, the place where Janice felt most at home was on the property in Rockbridge County that has been in her family for 180 years. It is on that property that she and Ken built a cabin and made their home.

Janice’s health has been up and down for the last decade starting with a breast cancer diagnosis in 2014 which meant chemo and radiation. In 2015 she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In 2017 was changed to Progressive Super Nuclear Palsy, which limited her mobility, yet she and Ken continued doing what they love and traveled together as much as possible. In August of this year after a visit to the hospital for a fall, Janice was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia.

She passed away after a brief hospital stay. Ken was with her through every diagnosis and hardship. Jan was loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed. Ken would like to thank Deb Plaisted for her efforts to always celebrate Jan’s birthdays together, which were mostly joyous except for one horrific occasion, as well as Susan Brady and her husband Eben for their support during Jan’s time in Virginia.

In addition to her husband, Kenneth Paul Lewis, she is survived by two step-children, Evan Lewis and Lauren Lewis; as well as “Tuggy”.

Services will be held at a later date in Mystic, Conn.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.simpsonfuneral. com NG