Janet Galbraith Birkel

Janet Galbraith Birkel, daughter of Rose and Robert Galbraith, was born on January 18, 1921 at home in Elmhurst, NY. She attended Newton High School where she was voted most popular in the senior class. Janet then attended Queens College for two years.

She met and fell in love with William George Birkel while they both were working at Equitable Life in Manhattan. They were married on October 18, 1942 at the chapel at Idlewild Airport (now JFK International). Bill enlisted in the Navy soon after the war broke out and served on an oil tanker in the Pacific. Janet lived with her parents until she moved to Long Beach, CA where she worked at a defense plant, hoping she could greet Bill's ship when it periodically returned. Janet became pregnant, and returned to New York alone, not knowing when Bill would return from the South Pacific. Little Billy was 6 months old before his dad met him one very happy day after the war ended. Janet and Bill bought their first home on Long Island, NY, and raised their 3 children, William, Barbara and Deborah. In 1979 Bill retired from Equitable and they built their dream home on the water in Pine Knoll Shores, NC, where they lived for 31 years. Janet took up golf and tennis. Her talent for watercolor painting was respected by many. She volunteered for Helpline, Literacy, Broad Street Clinic, the Mattie King Art Gallery and the Community Appearance Commission. In December 2011, Janet and Bill moved to Waltonwood Senior Living in Cary, NC to live closer to their daughter, Barbara.

Janet is survived by her husband of 71 years, William; her son William and his wife Virginia of Islip, NY; and her two daughters, Barbara and her husband Edward of Cary, NC; and Deborah and her husband Evan of McKinney, TX. Janet and Bill have six grandsons, Peter, William, Adam, Thomas, Gregory, and Douglas, and one granddaughter, Deborah. And there are 12 great grandchildren! All love their “Mimi” dearly.

Anyone who knew Janet will always remember her beautiful smile and think of her as one of the sweetest people in the world.