Mother, teacher, and community volunteer
Janis A. Forsyth (nee Hall) peacefully passed away in her home in Westerleigh on April 8, 2019, and has been received into the loving arms of God.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis Aloysius Hall and Maud Cotter Hall; her siblings, Constance Hall Darcy, Maud Hall Nobriga, Noel Hall Panico, Frank Hall, David Hall, and Barbara Hall; and her husband, James Wheeler Forsyth.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses, James Michael (Casey), John Patrick (Cathy), Timothy (Susan), and Nancy; her eldest granddaughters, Deirdre and Katie and their mother, Sheila; granddaughters, Caitlin, Kimberly, and Meredith; her great-granddaughter, Margaret Penelope, and 20 beloved nieces and nephews.
Janis attended P.S. 45 and Curtis High School. She received a BA from the College of Notre Dame, a part of St. John's University, where she was known as the girl with the golden hair and silver jewelry. In addition to her academic pursuits she participated in tennis, swimming, riding, and field hockey. She earned a master's in education from Richmond College on Staten Island.
Janis taught generations of Staten Island children in kindergarten and primary grades in NYC public schools. She spent many years at P.S. 44 in Mariners Harbor and P.S. 11 in Dongan Hills. Janis was a union member and served as a UFT chapter chairperson. After her official retirement, Janis continued to educate the children of Staten Island as a substitute teacher and in implementing the kindergarten testing program.
Janis embodied a spirit of community involvement and gave generously of her time. Sunday afternoons often found her dispensing coffee, cookies, and cheer at Farm Colony, a charity home and hospital for the elderly, many of whom were World War I veterans. Janis volunteered for more than two decades at Sailors' Snug Harbor Cultural Center. She was an active member of her alumnae association and sat on the Sister Helen Flynn Scholarship Committee for Notre Dame College. She served as a Eucharistic minister at Sacred Heart Church. She volunteered with the Ladies of Charity at Saint Vincent's Medical Center, now RUMC, in West Brighton.
Janis was a cancer survivor. Her experience spurred her to become a volunteer with the Reach to Recovery program. She also volunteered with the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and the American Cancer Society Navigator Program, providing empathy, information, and inspiration to scores of women undergoing treatment for cancer.
Janis had a large group of friends, with whom she enjoyed tennis, golf and bridge. She studied piano with Carol Edwards in Dongan Hills, and attended local theatre with longtime friend Lucille Stoebling. She baked Christmas cookies with lifelong friends Dottie Riley, Jean DeSantis, and Audrienne Barry for over 40 years, turning out hundreds of cookies in a day with military precision.
She loved to travel and went to Canada, Mexico, England, Ireland, France, Greece, and all over the United States. Janis stayed active, and well into her 80s she could be found swimming or participating in a group exercise class at the YMCA, walking at Clove Lakes Park, or biking down at the Jersey shore. In retirement, she was busier than most working people.
Janis instilled values of independence, self-sufficiency, higher education, and community service in her children, a legacy they value today. As a teacher and member of her community, she impacted too many people to count.
Calling hours are Thursday, April 11, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Ave. The Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Friday, April 12, at Holy Family Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
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