Janet Russell Warner

A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 am on June 10, 2023 at Brown Wynne Funeral Home Chapel located at 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, North Carolina 27511. The family will host a Celebration of Life Reception immediately following the service at Brown Wynne from 12:00pm until 2:00pm. All are invited to share a taste of Janet's favorite champagne and hear some of our wonderful memories and stories!

Janet Warner, 60, of Cary, North Carolina passed away Sunday, April 9th after a twelve-year-long journey with Younger/Early Onset Alzheimer’s disease. Janet was born on Fort Bragg, NC (1962) the daughter of the late Clyde Raymond Russell and Helen Ollive Persons Russell Robbins. She is predeceased by her sister Mary ‘Polly’ Johnson (Rick) and her brother Chris Russell (Susan). Janet leaves behind her beloved husband Dick, sons Robert and Russell, her niece Maggie Warner (Scott), nephews Chris Johnson (Caroline) and Richard Johnson (Jennifer), and cousins Jean Persons and Paul Persons.

She is a graduate of Fayetteville Academy (1980), Wake Forest University (1984), and West Virginia University (1987) followed by a career in genetics and pharmaceuticals at Research Triangle Institute and GlaxoSmithKline. Per Janet’s wishes, cremation has taken place and her ashes will be scattered at a private event.

Her entire life she was your confidant, your spoiled child, your admiring cousin, your cool aunt, the aunt who read stories out loud, the aunt willing to be a friend.

With Janet, time was measured by the lives of her pets and family, not days on the calendar. Growing up, her father’s dogs were integral playmates– Fred (the Ted), Dammit, and Dammit (Two).

Emerging into her ambitious adulthood years, her dog, Sam (the Man), emboldened her to be the high school valedictorian and pass college organic chemistry. Companionship from her cat, Spice, encouraged the writing of a master’s thesis in genetic toxicology, followed by Janet starting her career as a pharmaceutical scientist. Her cat, Darla, supported her through the transition of nervous newlywed to proud mother.

Janet preferred her days and nights to be determined by the waves and the moon. She always wanted to be at the beach, attempting to read a book, but usually napping in a hammock. She rescued starfish while watching pelicans, porpoises, egrets, and blue heron. She was the biggest fan at her sons’ soccer matches but could also take time to play with a praying mantis on the sidelines.

Minutes she saved for her joy of baking but not for being on time for dinner dates. She invented special request birthday cakes for her sons; but she never shared her secret chocolate chip cookie recipe, passed down to Janet from Toll House to Toll House.

However, memories of all her relationships, education, talents, special perfumes, and favorite color, gradually evaporated, hour by hour, day by day, over a twelve-year relentless path of Younger Onset Dementia. Her final two dogs, Tess and Mia, accompanied her on the way but neither dog could make the entire journey. Not too unsurprisingly, ‘Mia’ truly was the final name she could ever speak.

Once again, we hope happy kisses rain upon your face in a joyous reunion with your pets. Please cross the Rainbow Bridge together to meet those who have gone before us. We remember you as girlfriend, fiancé, wife, mom, aunt, cousin, sister-in-law, daughter, co-worker and friend. Our time with you is now gone. Your love, humor and wisdom will be passed on forever. Your love leaves a memory no one can steal.

Memorial contributions in memory of Janet may be made through the team page link below under "Donations" by clicking on Walk to End Alzheimer's.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory or story of Janet, or a message of condolences for her family, you may do so below through "Add a Memory."