Obituary: Janice G. Yale, 84, of Meriden

MERIDEN, CT - (From Wallingford Funeral Home): Janice G. Yale, 84, of Meriden, CT, the wife of the late Thomas F. Yale, loving mother, also known as Nene or Auntie Jaye passed away at her home surrounded by love.

Janice was born on November 4, 1935 in Wallingford, daughter of the late John Lenart and Deborah Carey. She graduated from Lyman Hall High School and recently retired after 38 years of home daycare.

Janice is survived by her children K. Chicky Yale Murchison, Michele Yale Crook, John T. Yale and his wife Pat and Traci Guckin. Her 11 grandchildren Chris, Bobbie-Sioux, Kristin, Charley, Mary, Megan, Molly, Matthew, Cody, Jacob and Aydyn; her great grandchildren Demetrius, Christian, Jaxon and Elias; her loving nieces Kristi Lenart Rikert of Vermont, Dina Prendergast and many other loved nieces and nephews; and her sister-in-law Florence Lenart and her brother-in-law, Monk Yale.

Janice was predeceased by her infant son David, her brother-in-laws Ralph and John Yale, son-in-law Bill Murchison, sister Diane and her husband Donald DuBord, sister Lorraine Santomero and her husband Danny and her brother David Lenart.

Known as Auntie Jaye or Nene, Janice developed unbreakable bonds with 78 children and their families over her 38 years of home daycare. She watched their lives flourish into adulthood becoming lifelong friends attending many of their weddings and other memorable life events. She was so very grateful for their love and kindness with them keeping her as such a special part of their lives and treasured their pop in visits and phone calls just to say hi.

Ward St. Church of Christ in Wallingford is where her love for God grew and her unshakable faith became evident near the end days of her journey here on earth. For 43 years she loved the “little white church on a hill” as she called it.

She loved decorating the front of the church for the different seasons or holidays and looked forward to the many potluck dinners after service. She was loved as Miss. Janice as a Sunday School and VBS teacher. In 2018, the church moved to Meriden and is now known as Meriden Church of Christ and looked forward to Sunday mornings to prepare communion for the congregation with her dear friend Nancy Quick.

Her and Nancy loved each other very much and shared a special and sweet friendship enjoying conversation and laughs while sitting outside of each other’s homes. She has many loving friends that will miss her deeply and some that she is already rejoicing with in heaven right now.

Janice loved being outside gardening and if you were in the know you knew of her “secret garden”. She enjoyed taking great care of her home and yard and had the passion for shopping that was needed to do so! Her love for the beach was something that was passed on to her daughter Traci and also her granddaughters and they would meet up often to share the day together.

Going out to eat and to shop was one of the things she did best and did it most with her daughter Traci. Janice and her grandson Cody were very close and shared a special bond that continued by helping to care for his Nene. She also very much enjoyed attending her grandson Matthew’s sports and school events.

Holidays were special to her, she loved to see the family gathered together no matter the craziness it may have brought. Her “Hungarian cookies” were a favorite to everyone; a tradition that was carried on from her Aunt, Ethel Dorsey. If you were given the recipe you are required to perfect them the same as she did and share. Thank you.

She was a tough cookie herself and proved that until the very end. Numerous hearts will remember her for her strength, selfless and unconditional love, her listening ear and her shoulder to cry on. Martha Pawloski, her “BFF” made Janice’s end of journey days more precious than any other could. Her loving touch, sweet words and prayers to bring the most beautiful of angels to come and take her home will be a treasured gift never to be forgotten. Through the last part of her journey here with us, her love and faith made us brave; she came in love and left in love.

A Memorial Service will be held at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers please consider gifts in her memory made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements are under the direction of The Wallingford Funeral Home.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.