Janet (Sullivan) McDermott

Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a short illness. She was born in Boston and moved to Norwood as a young child attending Norwood Public Schools and graduating from Norwood High School. Janet also graduated from Regis College and later earned her Master’s Degree in English from Boston College. Janet married the love of her life, Rick McDermott in 1974 and they lived a life of devotion for over 50 years. They resided in Norwood throughout their marriage.

Janet will be remembered as a scholar, educator and mentor. She had a profound love of literature and strived to bring the best out of each and every student she taught. Janet was an English teacher for 40 years working at Medfield Junior High School and Medfield High School from 1971-2011. Janet served as chair of the English department for ten years and in 2006 was recognized with the Goldin Foundation’s Excellence in Education award. Janet’s teaching peers had the utmost respect for her given her natural intelligence, high academic standards, and wicked sense of humor.

She is predeceased by her parents Jeremiah and Mary Ann Sullivan. In addition to her husband Rick, Janet is survived by her beloved cousin Sheila Wycinowski. She derived great joy from her in-law family: Brother-in-law Scott McDermott and his wife Kelly, their children Courtney and Matt Gill, Dillon McDermott and Jack McDermott and her great nephew Pearce Gill and great nieces Lila and Harper Gill; Sister-in-law Nancy McDermott and her husband Bob O’Keefe (deceased); her children Matt O’Keefe and Connor O’Keefe; and Brother-in-law Paul McDermott and his wife Laura, their children Marley McDermott and her husband Bennett Skaggs, Jay McDermott and Max McDermott and her great niece Ellis Skaggs.

The family invites you to share in a Celebration of Janet’s Life in the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole Street (Rt. 1A) in Norwood on Monday, March 27th beginning with a Visitation with the family from 10 to 11 AM and a Remembrance from 11 to 11:30 AM. Immediately following the service the family invites you to join them for a Luncheon at Four Points Sheraton, 1125 Boston-Providence Turnpike Norwood. At Janet’s request the celebration should be casual attire. Interment at Highland Cemetery in Norwood will be private.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in Janet’s memory to the Norwood Circle of Hope, PO Box 421, Norwood, MA 02062.