Janet Aileen DeCourcey

Janet Aileen DeCourcey, 85, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on May 21, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Sarah (McLay) Swindell; two brothers, Howie and Jack; and two sisters, Doris Westaway and Mary Deborah Mersereau. She is survived by her beloved husband, Arthur; three sons, Charlie (Andrea) of Canton, GA, Bill (Laura) of Fredericksburg, VA, and Mark (Lisa) of Fredericksburg, VA; two brothers, Harold and Lorne (Joan) Swindell; nine grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Born on August 17, 1935, Janet grew up in Everett, Massachusetts. After graduating from high school, Janet began working as a secretary at Hycon Eastern, located on the banks of the Charles. This is where she met the love of her life, Arthur, who still remembers the first time he laid eyes on Janet. After a short courtship, where Arthur made it a point to see Janet socially every single day even if it was for just a cup of coffee with Janet at her father’s home. Janet and Arthur happily wed in July 1959.

Janet and Arthur began raising their three sons in Braintree, Massachusetts. The family enjoyed spending their summer weekends at the family cottage on Sebago Lake in Maine. Janet loved swimming and so she would spend hours each weekend in the water with her husband and sons. In 1976, Janet and the family moved to Stafford, Virginia where she served in the role of the pastor’s wife of Zoar Baptist Church in Catlett, Virginia, a role she proudly served for 30 years.

Janet’s greatest pride was her family, and so she was the happiest in the kitchen, cooking for a home full of family and loved ones. Her rocky road bars and lemon meringue pies were particularly famous and although Janet shared her recipes with her family, she must have forgotten to include an ingredient or two because the desserts would just never turn out quite right.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Zoar Baptist Church, 11036 Elk Run Road, Catlett, VA 20119. All who knew and loved Janet are welcome to come and celebrate her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zoar Baptist Church (www.zoarbc.org) or Progressive Missions (www.progressivemissions.org).