Janet, affectionately known as Chi Chi to her parents and siblings, was the youngest daughter of Eugene and Vincenzina Ravarino, born June 23, 1927, in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from St. Agnes Academy, where she was president of her senior class. A few years after graduating, she married Lawton Delaney and together they raised four children. Janet was a fiercely loyal mom, never wavering in her support of her children. She went on to embrace the title of Granny and Nona to her seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. To the delight of those grandchildren, she could always be counted on for that extra dessert, that extra story, and that extra fifteen minutes of television.
Janet developed her sense of style and beauty from a love of Hollywood movies and the encouragement of her three older sisters. She had a knockout smile and never took a bad picture. Her kids used to tease her that she wouldn’t even go outside to the clothesline before first putting on her lipstick. But more than that, she channeled that exterior beauty into an inner grace that guided her family and touched so many others over the years.
Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Lawton Delaney, her parents Eugene and Vincenzina Ravarino, her brother Nino Ravarino, and her three sisters Eda Roberts, Alma Peterson, and Legia Wade. She will be forever missed by her children Linda Delaney, Kevin Delaney (Carolyn), Jan Bunch, and Kathy Spiers (Jack), as well as her grandchildren Erin, Kristy, Sarah, Daniel, Emma, Cole, and Evan, and her great grandson Isaac.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, September 11th at 9:00 AM with the funeral mass to follow at 10:00 AM at Saint Anne Catholic Church, 706 S. Highland St., Memphis, TN. Burial will be at 11:30 AM at Calvary Cemetery, 1663 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN. Flowers can be sent to Memphis Funeral Home (5599 Poplar Ave) or a donation may be made in Janet’s honor to the charity of your choice.
