Obituary for Janet R. Stephens
Janet R. Stephens, age 92 of Wantage, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023, at her home.
Born in Carlstadt to the late Robert W. and Ruth (Way) Wannemacher, Janet grew up in Hasbrouck Heights and lived in West Milford before settling in Sussex County sixty-two years ago. After graduating from Wagner College on Staten Island, Janet began her long and dedicated career as a teacher. She taught at West Milford and Stanhope Schools but took a break to raise her five children. Eventually, Janet joined the staff at Sussex-Wantage School as a first-grade teacher in 1972, where she worked until her retirement in 1994.
Janet was an avid reader with a special affinity for cookbooks. She was also an accomplished artist and she enjoyed baking and sewing.
Predeceased by her husband, Theodore Stephens; a brother, Robert C. Wannemacher; and son-in-law, Epifanio Gomez, Janet is survived by her daughter, Katherine Gomez, and her life partner Jeffrey Huff, of Wantage; sons Theodore and wife AnnMarie Stephens of Wantage, Seth and wife Jean Stephens of Hamburg, Jonathan Stephens of Wantage, and Thomas and wife Laurene Stephens of Lake Ariel, PA; she is also survived by her fourteen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.
Janet was a loving and faithful Christian. She was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church
A visitation for Janet will be held on Friday, June 2nd, 2023 from 6-8PM at the Ferguson Funeral Home, 27 Third Street, Sussex, NJ 07461. A funeral service for Janet will be on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, 9AM at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Hardyston. Burial in the North Hardyston Cemetery will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sussex-Wantage Education Association Philanthropic Fund, 31 Ryan Road, Wantage, N.J. 07461 Online condolences may be offered through www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com
Born in Carlstadt to the late Robert W. and Ruth (Way) Wannemacher, Janet grew up in Hasbrouck Heights and lived in West Milford before settling in Sussex County sixty-two years ago. After graduating from Wagner College on Staten Island, Janet began her long and dedicated career as a teacher. She taught at West Milford and Stanhope Schools but took a break to raise her five children. Eventually, Janet joined the staff at Sussex-Wantage School as a first-grade teacher in 1972, where she worked until her retirement in 1994.
Janet was an avid reader with a special affinity for cookbooks. She was also an accomplished artist and she enjoyed baking and sewing.
Predeceased by her husband, Theodore Stephens; a brother, Robert C. Wannemacher; and son-in-law, Epifanio Gomez, Janet is survived by her daughter, Katherine Gomez, and her life partner Jeffrey Huff, of Wantage; sons Theodore and wife AnnMarie Stephens of Wantage, Seth and wife Jean Stephens of Hamburg, Jonathan Stephens of Wantage, and Thomas and wife Laurene Stephens of Lake Ariel, PA; she is also survived by her fourteen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.
Janet was a loving and faithful Christian. She was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church
A visitation for Janet will be held on Friday, June 2nd, 2023 from 6-8PM at the Ferguson Funeral Home, 27 Third Street, Sussex, NJ 07461. A funeral service for Janet will be on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, 9AM at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Hardyston. Burial in the North Hardyston Cemetery will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sussex-Wantage Education Association Philanthropic Fund, 31 Ryan Road, Wantage, N.J. 07461 Online condolences may be offered through www.fergusonfuneralhomesnj.com