Janet Lang

She was a “honey of a mother” to her five daughters, a friend to many and a beautiful butterfly who sampled so much of life, but sadly Janet Lang passed away peacefully early in the morning of June 16, 2022.

Janet grew up in Buffalo, NY where she developed her love of having the dining table filled with family and friends.

After college she married and moved to Canandaigua, NY to raise a growing family and begin teaching high school English, the first of two major careers. Her second career took her to Fairport, NY and work in human resources for Xerox Corporation.

The combination of great energy and a social conscience resulted in initiatives such as a new black literature curriculum at the high school and a bail fund work release program. Several efforts to help others included participating in weekend theatre for children of migrant workers, cooking many meals at the Jennifer House (a residential re-entry program for the homeless) and volunteering at Pack, Paddle and Ski, FoodLink and White Lotus Buddhist Center among others.

Later in life she found great kinship with the small Christian community group she met through Spiritus Christi Church and she continued to find meaning through generous donation of time and treasure alongside these dear friends.

Janet wore sandals in winter, she loved Wegmans, and was known to all servers at her local Applebee’s where everybody really did know her name. She enjoyed international travel and her deep love of the Adirondacks was known to many. Reading and enjoying music were part of her identity, as well as her great love of gathering people together around her table for a meal.

Janet always tried to make the world a better place, and as she was closing out the final chapters of her life book, her daughters want to acknowledge those people that made her world a better place: Annie M, and the wonderful staff at both Bridges and Hospicare, in Ithaca NY.

Janet was pre-deceased by her father Mark, mother Helen, brother Mark and former husband Dick. She is survived by her five daughters, Karen, Mary Jo, Rosemary (Rob), Barbara (Pat), and Anne (Pete).  She is also mourned by her grandchildren Kate (Kevin), Maggie, Peter, and Molly, Shea and Finn, great granddaughter Riley, stepsister Jean, sister-in-law Nancy, and niece Chris.

The family is holding a private ceremony; if you would like to make a donation in her honor, consider Hopsicare in Ithaca, NY, Jennifer House in Rochester, NY, or Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake, however, the very best way to honor Janet Lang is to live life fully, with zest, love and laughter.