Janet L. Taber

Janet Louise Loveman Duckworth Taber, 98, died peacefully the morning of October 13, 2023. She was born on January 22, 1925 to Dr. Samuel & Gertrude Loveman, of Toms River. Jano, as she was known to all, was a long-time resident of Island Heights.

After graduation from Toms River High School in 1942, Jano attended Moore College of Art and Design, formerly The Philadelphia School of Design, her schooling led to a job in New York City where she worked in the window display department of Macy’s Department Store, Herald Square. She married Harry Duckworth in 1946 and lived in Cranmoor Manor until moving to Island Heights in 1955 where they raised their three children.

In the early years of marriage, Jano was very involved with the White Pine Twig, raising funds to build Community Memorial Hospital by decorating for elaborate fundraising balls. Along with Janet Bance and Betty ‘Jenny’ Loveman (her sister-in-law), Jano founded ‘3 J’s Displays’ and did window display for many Toms River businesses. After her divorce from Harry in 1959, she focused her attention on building a framing business, Long Swamp Studios in Toms River. In 1968, she married Alex Taber of Madison, NJ and Island Heights.

Affectionately known as a ‘Force of Nature’ by her friends, Jano was a champion of the arts, culture and historic preservation. She was an accomplished portraitist, still life and scenic artist who was inspired by local scenery. She also painted three large commissioned murals in the area: scenes of the ocean and Barnegat Bay for Captain Courageous Restaurant; scenes of the ocean and back- bays of Island Beach State Park at Jersey Shore Savings & Loan; and scenes of Lenni-Lenape villages for The Medford Savings and Loan Bank in Medford, NJ.

Jano was a founding member and long-time president of the Ocean County Artist Guild. She was instrumental in convincing Edith Grace, a resident of Island Heights, to donate her grand Victorian home to the newly formed organization. She was also a founding member and long-time president of the Island Heights Cultural & Heritage Association (IHCHA), whose mission is to promote and preserve the rich historic, artistic, and architectural heritage of Island Heights. She endeavored to save the Historic Wanamaker Hall, and she spearheaded the purchase and restoration of the 1880’s Carpenter style Victorian cottage on Simpson Avenue that has become The Cottage Museum; a living museum that highlights the rich Victorina past of Island Heights. With IHCHA, she was instrumental in saving and preserving the Central Avenue pavilion, one of the last pavilions on the Toms River. Jano was also part of the group that successfully lobbied the state and federal government to place Island Heights on the National and State Register of Historic Places for its unique collection of mostly intact Victorian homes. Most recently, she kick-started the initiative to save John F. Peto’s studio and home. In 1998, Jano was inducted into Toms River Regional Schools Hall of Fame from the Class of 1942.

Jano is predeceased by both of her husbands, Harry Duckworth and Alex Taber; and son James. She is survived by her daughter Lynn Duckworth Pendleton, and son Clinton; 4 grandchildren Allison Pendleton Yaffee, Vanessa Duckworth, Tami Duckworth-Salomone, Tara Duckworth Quintuna; 8 great-grandchildren Kendall, Jazmyn, Dean, Talia, Crystal, Michael, Jackson and Ellie; and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Her Life is planned for the spring of 2024 at The Cottage Museum, 105 Simpson Avenue Island Heights that she loved so dearly.

Please check back as we near Spring for complete details on Jano's Celebration of Life.