Janet Block Daniels

Janet Block Daniels, daughter of the late Marcus and Ruth Block, and sister of the late Michael Wilton Block passed away peacefully on December 31, 2022 in New Bern, NC. Janet was raised in New Bern and attended the city schools. As a young girl her love was dancing; toe, tap, ballet, and ballroom. At an early age she received a dancing scholarship to attend Roseland Ballroom in New York during the summer time. As a teenager she taught ballroom dancing at the USO when the Cha-Cha became the rage. In addition to being an honor student at New Bern High School, she was awarded the Youth Service Award by the Rotary Club of New Bern for her ideals of service. She attended the University of Miami in Florida and graduated with her Bachelor and Master’s degrees from East Carolina University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and received honors from the History and Social Studies clubs.

She married Charles E. Daniels Jr., a Marine Corps jet pilot and she taught school where he was stationed. First teaching at Havelock High School, where she received the Young Educator Award from the Jaycees before leaving to teach in Alabama and Quantico, Virginia. During her teaching career she taught almost every grade level and served a Principal. During her tenure at Quantico she received letters of appreciation from a Principal and from the Superintendent. She also received, from the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, a United States Marine Corps Certificate of Commendation for exceptional dedication, service, and professional leadership as Principal when her high level of organization and people skills provided exceptional leadership.

In 1994 Janet and her husband Charlie retired to New Bern. Because of their love of travel, they began touring the US by car. Each summer motel reservations were made, and off they went for a month or so. During the next 14 years they traveled to all of the 48 contiguous states, visiting and exploring the parks, canyons, monuments, and places of little and great renown. They also made several trips to Canada visiting all the Provinces, except the Yukon and the Northwest territory. A record was made of all these trips via camcorder and later transferred to DVDs to enjoy. Several cruises also were enjoyed during the Spring of those years.

Janet was blessed in having her loving husband Charlie as her caregiver during her struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. She is survived by her grandson, Bryan Daniels and wife, Elizabeth; granddaughters, Natalie Daniels and Caitlyn Kessler and husband, Corbett; great-grandson Keller Kessler; daughter-in-law, Susan Daniels; and many loving family members and close friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Daniels Jr; son, Matthew Alan Daniels; and parents, Marcus and Ruth Block.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 11:00 AM at United Hebrew of New Bern Cemetery. The cemetery is located beside the New Bern National Cemetery.

Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Janet Block Daniels.