Janet Louise McDonald

Janet Louise McDonald (nee Zapotoczny) passed away at age 65 on February 1, losing her second very short battle with cancer. A viewing is scheduled for Friday, February 9, from 2 pm to 4 pm at Demaine Funeral Home with a memorial service to be held at 4 pm.

Janet is survived by her husband Dennis; her daughter Heather Saulitis (Andy) of Centreville, VA; her granddaughter Kaylee Saulitis; her brother Joseph Zapotoczny (Anna) of Waynesboro, VA; and by many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Janet was born and raised in Altoona, PA, the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Gural) Zapotoczny and loved celebrating her Russian and Ukrainian heritage. She attended Penn State University and received a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University. She met her husband at Penn State and they were married in 1975. Janet and Dennis have lived in North Springfield since 1979 and celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary by renewing their wedding vows in 2015 while vacationing in Hawaii.

Janet was very creative and enjoyed baking elaborate cakes for family and friend’s celebrations and working as a florist at Whole Foods Market. She also enjoyed decorating her home for all major holidays but most especially for Halloween when hundreds of trick-or-treaters were drawn to her home for king-sized candy bars. Janet cherished her family and was actively involved in Heather’s various childhood activities, serving as a Girl Scout leader, homeroom mother, soccer team mother and coach, and as the president of and swim team booster at the North Springfield Swimming Club.

Janet was also a huge sports fan and enjoyed rooting for the Washington Nationals and arguing with other sports fans on Facebook. But her life-long love was for Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers football (and later in life for Virginia Tech football after Heather attended VT).

Janet also loved spending time at the beach, enjoying the sunrises and building sand castles at Key West or the Outer Banks.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Capital Caring Hospice Center at 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, VA 22042.

Services to be held Friday February 9, 2018 at Demaine Funeral Home in Springfield starting at 2pm