Jana Knudsen Molinaro

Jana Lynne Knudsen Molinaro was born on March 1, 1952. Just missed Leap Day by one day! Wouldn't she have loved being only 17 now?! She lived the beginning part of her life in Catonsville, MD, where she was joined by her two younger brothers, Chris and Bob. Then she moved to Ellicott City, MD, in time to start school. It was during this time that she met her life-long best friend, Dale Speake Cahill.

Jana graduated from Howard High School in 1970. During her teenage years, she was involved in Youth Operetta, choir, and drama. She had the voice of an angel. Jana also spent a great deal of time with her beloved grandparents, Pop and Bee. After high school, she took many college classes and was the Secretary of the SGA.

Jana was married in 1972 and had her first child, Vanessa Lynne in 1973. Even though she stopped going to college to be a mom, she never stopped learning. She was intellectually curious all the time and always had a book in her hand. Jana was self-taught and she was brilliant.

After her first marriage did not work out, she married Gary Molinaro on May 27, 1978. He had a daughter, Amber, from a previous marriage and together, Jana and Gary had a blended family. They added Lauren Elizabeth in 1979 and Steven Robert in 1984. Their family was complete.

After moving around a bit, Jana and Gary made Littlestown, PA their permanent home. Jana became active in the Adams County Democratic Party and she and Gary worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaign at the grassroots level. Jana also became involved with the World Wildlife Fund, Sophia's Grace Dog Rescue, No Kid Hungry, and many other groups. Jana put her money where her mouth was. She was compassionate and empathetic. She helped anyone and everyone in need. She was an ally to the Black, Jewish, LGBTQ+ communities and all other communities that have been marginalized or discriminated against. She got these traits from both her parents, Jo Ann and Stuart, but particularly her mother who fought against injustice her whole life.

Jana was a spitfire and the matriarch of her family. She loved her husband and children and was always a shoulder for them to lean on. When her grandchildren, Matthew, Eden, Mitchell, Nico, Rory, and Peyton were born, they filled her heart with joy and love. She could deny them nothing. She greatly loved them, her grandparents, her parents, her brothers, her sisters-in-law (Cyndie, Gail, and Sharon), her best friend (and husband, Pat), her other friends, her nieces and nephews, and all of her cousins. Jana will be greatly missed by all.

Services for Jana are private. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to one of her favorite charities:

No Kid Hungry https://www.nokidhungry.org/

World Wildlife Fund https://www.worldwildlife.org/

Sophia's Grace Dog Rescue https://www.sophiasgracefoundation.org/