Janet Catherine (Jarvis) Sethares

Janet was the beloved wife of James (Jim) Sethares. They shared more than 45 very happy years of marriage before Jim’s passing in 2020. She was a loving mother to Jim’s children, Bill and Marilyn, and to their daughter, Andrea. She was an amazing grandmother to Tracy and Lauren, creating memories to last a lifetime. One of the greatest joys of her life was spending time with her great-grandchildren, Maggie, Charlotte, Julian, Madeline, and Cameron. When they visited her at New Horizons in Woburn, the great-grandchildren were always the center of her attention—and clearly brought her immense joy. One of her favorite sayings was “Ask me about my grandkids…they’re grand”!

Above all, Janet treasured her family—and she had plenty of family to go around!

For many years, she organized Jarvis family reunions and researched the family’s history, which dates back to colonial times and possibly as far back as the Mayflower.

She was equally devoted to the gatherings, heaps of food, and seemingly endless supply of cousins in Jim’s big, fat Greek family. She even learned to make yaprakia, a cherished contribution to family celebrations.

Janet grew up on her parents’ farm in Walpole, Massachusetts. She graduated from Walpole High School and Boston College. She devoted an important chapter of her life to religious service as a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. During those years, she taught in Charlestown, the North End, Somerville, and Framingham, and participated in the summer program at Regis College. She also contributed to religious education throughout the Archdiocese of Boston, helping educate parents and volunteer religious educators.

After being released from her vows, Janet maintained her connection to the Sisters of St. Joseph as an affiliate member, continuing to support the community and its mission.

Teaching remained a central part of Janet’s life. During her marriage to Jim, she taught in the public schools of Waltham and Burlington, Massachusetts. She also volunteered as a teacher and served on the Advisory Council at Cotuit Elementary School. She loved to give out A+ and a gold star to those around her!

Janet and Jim shared a deep commitment to helping others and making a difference in their community. Both were active in the Boston chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society, serving on its board alongside Marjorie Guthrie, with Janet also serving as president. Later, they joined the MIT Club of Cape Cod, where Jim served as president and Janet contributed her time and talents by preparing the club’s newsletter.

Both were graduates of Barnstable’s Citizens Academy and remained actively engaged in civic and political life. They attended meetings and marches and wrote letters to the Cape Cod Times in support of social justice. Their involvement reflected a shared belief that making a difference meant showing up, speaking out, and standing up for what they believed was right.

Whether in the classroom, through her faith community, in civic life, or among the many branches of her extended family, Janet brought the same qualities to everything she did: compassion, curiosity, dedication, and a genuine interest in others. Her life was a testament to the belief that service takes many forms, that family is something to nurture and celebrate, and that even small acts of commitment can make a lasting difference.

Janet will be remembered for her enduring faith, her years of teaching and service, her devotion to family, and her steadfast commitment to the people and causes that mattered to her. She touched many lives and leaves behind a lasting legacy of love, service, and connection.

In life Janet mourned the loss of her parents: William and Clara, her beloved husband Jim, her siblings: Sandy and Bill, her brothers-in-law George and Merle, sister-in-law Anita, and her great-grandson Julian.

In passing Janet leaves behind:

* her beloved children: Bill Sethares and wife Ann Bell, Marilyn Nieuweboer and husband Raymond, and Andrea Rzeznikiewicz and husband Kevin,

* her cherished grandchildren: Tracy Sloboda and husband Frank, Lauren Nieuweboer and husband Matthew Cayer, * her beloved great-grandchildren: Maggie, Charlotte, Madeline, and Cameron,

* her loving sisters, Jill Howe and Sally Brown, brothers-in-law Thomas Brown and Gerald Keohane; her sisters-in-law: Nancy Jarvis, Calliope Davis, and Eirene Parker,

* She will also be remembered with love by her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.