Janet Jurczyk

Janet (Jan) Ann Jurczyk (nee Koscielski) born August 17, 1945 died peacefully in her sleep October 15, 2025 at the age of 80, reuniting with her husband of 56 years, Ray Jurczyk who preceded her in death (June 3, 2022).

Condensing Jan’s life to a few paragraphs is not an adequate representation of the life she lived and the wife, mother, Nanny and dear friend she was to so many.

Jan relied on her strong Catholic faith and deep Polish roots to raise her five children with Ray in a loving home constantly filled with friends, family, her amazing meals and the sounds of Neil Diamond.

Jan’s love language was acts of service and for her that meant homemade meals and desserts (she knew everyone’s favorites). Jan never showed up without a dessert or creatively curated charcuterie platter. She turned her passion into a side hustle to help put five kids through Catholic school making homemade cakes for hundreds of weddings, birthdays, special occasions and sometimes just because someone wanted one of Jan’s cakes.

In the late 1970’s Jan, Ray and their four small children (at the time) escaped a house fire in the middle of a bad winter night. Together they rebuilt that house into a home for her family while pregnant with her fifth child. Through that experience there wasn’t a tool she didn’t know how to use (this was long before YouTube videos) and she always figured it out.

Just when you thought you had seen all Jan could do, she unlocked a new level as a Grandma, affectionately referred to as Nanny to ten lucky grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Time spent talking to or being in the presence of her grandchildren was all she needed, especially after she became a widow.

Jan met life’s challenges head-on. She survived breast cancer twice, lost her husband, sold her home and moved away from the only place she ever lived to a brand new state and courageously lived her last three years. Her health worsened and her challenges became greater but her grit and determination to do things her way allowed her to stay independent until the end.

Through her many experiences, battles, and triumphs in life she forged a legacy of perseverance and love.

A celebration of Jan’s life will be planned at a later date. Jan had a few options for anyone choosing to honor her:

◦ Gather for a meal with those you love (pork steak and Chardonnay are optional).

◦ Listen to Forever in Blue Jeans (Neil Diamond) or Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and remember your good times with Jan

◦ And if you have it in your heart to donate - she was a proud supporter of:

◦ Purple Heart Foundation (Ways to Give - Purple Heart Foundation)

◦ American Cancer Society https://donate.cancer.org

◦ Local food pantries