Mary Janice " Jan" Kielbasa, 87, of Hamilton, NJ, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2023, at Capital Health Hospital in Hopewell, New Jersey. She was born on October 11, 1936, in Salem, Massachusetts, to the late James and Mary Walsh.
Janice, known to her loved ones as Jan, was a thoughtful and loving person. She had a remarkable memory and would always remember the birthdays and anniversaries of her family and friends. Jan had a warm and friendly personality, striking up conversations with anyone she met and making friends easily.
After graduating from Salem High School, Jan attended Salem Hospital School of Nursing and obtained her diploma in nursing. She worked as a Registered Nurse in a variety of specialties for more than 40 years, dedicating herself to caring for others. After her retirement from her nursing career, Jan spent many years as a volunteer at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ where she continued to help many people in her local hospital and community.
In her free time, Jan enjoyed reading, working on jigsaw puzzles, and playing Rummikub with her friends. These hobbies and pastimes brought her much joy and relaxation, especially during the last four years while she was a resident at The Homestead at Hamilton.
Jan is survived by her children, Stephen (Janet) Kielbasa, Laurie (Carl) Casazza, and Kathy (Kevin) Hodapp. She was a loving grandmother to Quinn (Abby) Kielbasa, Elizabeth (Jordan) McGrew, Cayleigh Kielbasa, Patrick Hodapp, Kara Hodapp, and Colin Kielbasa. Jan was also a proud great-grandmother to Keegan Learish, Evelyn Kielbasa, Benjamin McGrew and Charlotte McGrew. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Thaddeus “Ted” Kielbasa, her sister Nancy Crabtree, and her parents Mary and James Walsh.
A funeral service will be held privately for the Kielbasa family and Jan will be laid to rest at Gates of Heaven in East Hanover, NJ. Please celebrate Jan’s life and memory privately in your own special way.
Jan will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Her kind and compassionate nature will be remembered and cherished forever. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jan's memory can be made to the Market Street Mission in Morristown, NJ or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN.
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