Janet Ann Culbertson

Janet Ann Culbertson, age 87, of Cumberland, RI, passed peacefully on April 18, 2014 at her residence. She was born March 25, 1927 in South Pasadena, California to Elliot Benson Fadley and Olive Ann Fadley. Her brother was the late Jack Elliott Fadley of Palm Desert, California. Janet, well known for her kindness and generosity was an Elementary School Teacher, with a degree from Occidental College.

Married to the late Horace Coe Culbertson, they lived in San Gabriel, California, relocating to Timonium, Maryland in 1966, later relocating to Cumberland, RI to be near her youngest son. She is predeceased by her two sons, Timothy Coe Culbertson, of Towson, MD, and Gary Dan Culbertson, of Pittsburg, PA, and survived by one son, William Craig Culbertson, of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, nine grand children and one great grandchild. She was a member of Havenwood Presbyterian Church in Lutherville, MD.

An avid golfer, Janet was a long time member of the Towson Golf and Country Club, the Baltimore Country Club and supporter of the local sport teams. She was equally blessed with charm and grace in any social setting and reflected intelligence, insight and wit in conversation. As a seasoned traveler, Janet traveled to all regions of the world, exchanging good will with her fellow travelers and with those she met. Janet was a remarkable, nurturing person who enriched the lives of those around her. She will be missed by those she loved and those who loved her.

The family will receive friends in the LEMMON FUNERAL HOME OF DULANEY VALLEY INC., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, MD 21093 on Saturday, April 26 from 10 to 11AM at which time a funeral service will be celebrated at 11AM. Interment Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. Expressions of sympathy may be directed in Janet's memory to American Heart Assoc., 4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060. A guest book is available at www.lemmonfuneralhome.com

EULOGY given at Janet's funeral:

Thank you for coming to celebrate my Mom’s life. Over the past week since her passing, we have received many messages of sympathy and condolences, which have been greatly appreciated. One conveyance struck me as being very apropos. It was from my cousin Jim’s wife Diane. She said, “I have been trying to think of one word that would best describe your Mom, and I keep coming up with the word: generous. I think for anyone who knew her, they would have to agree.

When combined with her commitment to her family, the result was a world of love, support and caring that we all found comfort in. Her love and generosity was all encompassing and inclusive. If any one of us in the family expressed the slightest interest in something, she did her best to support and nurture that interest. It was evident in many forms: optimistic encouragement, discovering reference material, sending books, related articles and most importantly, by being an active listener. Whether the paths of our lives led to triumphal achievements or to colossal failure, Mom was always there for us all with her support and love. The generosity of her love permeated through our lives as mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, neighbor, friend and as a life partner to Dad.

From the early days of Dad’s career, Mom was always there to support him not only as a cheerleader, but as a trusted councilor and confidant. She was blessed with poise and gracefulness in any setting, whether hosting a corporate convention for hundreds of attendees as she did on several occasions or attending a formal dinner for a guest list of international business leaders. Yet, she was equally at home at a family dinner with a table of sticky-fingered grandchildren and large goofy dogs underfoot.

Mom was a person of many extraordinary talents and abilities. Some of you know her from her love of sports, from duckpins to golfing, from the Orioles to the Red Sox. The Ravens to the Patriots. She was always there for the boys too. From Dad’s days on the football field at Occidental college to Tim’s undefeated season football season at Dulaney. Gary’s stellar days on the basketball court to his multiple County Championships in the High Jump. I was very specific in my instructions to not come to any of my track and cross-country meets. It wasn’t until the end of my senior year I found out she had disregarded my wishes. She had secretly gone to each and every event over the three years whether at home or away. She’d seen all my successes… all my failures. She never let on. That was my Mom.

Her interests and abilities were wide-ranging. Her skill as a seamstress was exceptional. She started sewing her cloths for high school dances and continued to on through to dresses, shirts, skirts, costumes and puppets for us all. Her knitting and quilting was beyond compare. She made sure we each have special Christmas stockings, and quilts we can treasure while remembering her. Mom traveled around the world to the four points of the compass. Having traveled to China and Japan with her, I saw first hand how she was truly an ambassador of kindness and good will. At an elementary school in China, I remember watching her teach and entertain a class of students, all riveted on her for twenty minutes. Her generosity and caring had no borders.

Mom’s sense of humor cannot be overlooked. She loved the British dry type of humor and could draw on her own quick wit at will. She waited until I was twenty-three to tell me that I was induced when born. I was ok with that until I realized moments later, it was on a Friday the 13th. She couldn’t wait one more day? That was my Mom’s sense of humor.

To those outside the family, she will also be remembered for her generosity. When she moved up to Rhode Island a few years ago, she really missed her friends here. We were worried about how she would adjust. Although no one could ever take the place of the friends ands neighbors she loved here, we were surprised how she adapted. Before long she was helping the ladies in her new community with their computer problems, teaching several how to knit and sew, refereed the gossip at the dinner tables and begrudgingly learning to support the Red Sox.

She continued to love watching the golf matches, followed the world news and was a devout wheel and Jeopardy fan. Up to the end, her Southern California roots were evident as the sight of her true comfort food, a fresh taco could bring her to a smile.

My Mom, Janet, was, is and will always be one of the most special persons to have touched our lives. I don’t think we will ever truly comprehend the extent to which she enriched and fulfilled our lives, contributing to making us who we are.

We all love you and miss you.