Janet C. McNabb Obituary

Janet C. McNabb

On Thursday, October 12, 2023, at the age of 80, Janet McNabb passed away. She was surrounded by the love of her family and able to remain in her home thanks to the support of Lightways Hospice, and especially the loving care of her nurse, Margie and CNA, Jo.

Janet is preceded in death by her husband N. Douglas McNabb. She is survived by her two daughters Mary (Mike) Wilcox and Jennifer (Robert) Casper. Four grandchildren Rafael Casper, Brenn Wilcox, Nora Wilcox, and Colin Wilcox Her two brothers Ken (Miranda) Hine and Dirk Hine, and several nieces and nephews.

Born two months early, on December 12, 1942, Janet was the only daughter of the late Ken and Hazel Hine. Deciding that she was their early Christmas gift, they gave Janet the middle name of Carol, in honor of the Christmas Carols that her dad played as a church organist. Janet's middle name would become even more meaningful, as her love of music grew. Throughout her life, Janet enjoyed playing the piano and organ. She also sang in many choirs. In fact, it was Janet's participation in a church choir that led her to meet the love of her life, Doug McNabb.

After marrying Doug McNabb on September 23, 1972, Janet dedicated herself to being a homemaker and stay-at-home mom while her daughters were young. As time went on, Janet was able to pursue her passion and dedicated her life to teaching children as a substitute teacher, reading assistant, preschool teacher, and reading tutor. Throughout her life, church was very important to Janet. Most recently, she was a long-time member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she enjoyed being a part of the chancel choir and served as a deacon and elder. Sharing her faith and caring for others came naturally to Janet. She was active in leading the Outreach and Evangelism team, and instrumental in starting a Shepherding Program and Care Team at Westminster. Janet also shared her faith with the children of the church as a Sunday School Coordinator and teacher, a children’s choir director, a VBS volunteer, and LOGOS teacher. Another way that Janet shared her faith was through coordinating and creating an annual Lenten Devotional book. This was a labor of love that Doug and Janet shared for many years. Janet was also an active member of Beta Sigma Phi, where she frequently served as an officer, participated in philanthropic endeavors, and made life-long friendships with her sorority sisters.

Another love of Janet’s was sewing. From her early days of learning to sew by making clothes for her dolls, to creating full wardrobes for her daughters, to sewing dresses for entire wedding parties- including her own wedding and the weddings of her daughters, to running several side businesses that revolved around her sewing, to sewing special holiday outfits for her grandchildren, to sharing her sewing adventures with several good friends and fellow seamstresses, sewing never failed to bring Janet joy!

Above all, the thing that brought Janet the greatest joy in life, was spending time with her family. Whether it was time spent in their trailer at the campground, dinners around the table, relaxing on their deck, or attending various activities that her children and grandchildren were involved in, any time was a good time, as long as it was time spent with family!

Memorial services for Janet will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1015 Winthrop Ave., Thursday, October 19th at 12:00 P.M. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until time of services. In memory of Janet, memorials to Westminster Presbyterian Church or Lightways Hospice will be appreciated. Funeral arrangements conducted by Carlson-Holmquist-Sayles Funeral Home & Crematory. For information please call (815) 744-0022 or visit www.CHSFUNERAL.com