Washington — Janet M. Leary, 78, of Washington, died at 12:40 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2010, at Washington Christian Village in Washington.
Born Jan. 21, 1932, in Somerville, Mass. to Joseph and Flora Kelm MacDougall, she married Paul E. Leary May 29, 1954, in Somerville.
Surviving are her husband of 56 years, Paul, seven children, Mark (Margie) Leary of Sacramento, Calif., Craig (Sharon) Leary of San Bruno, Calif., Scott (Marie) Leary of Oakland, Calif., Grant (Sylvia) Leary and Steve (Mary) Leary, both of Naperville, Joanne (Brad) Blakey of Alpharetta, Ga., and Erin Leary-Austin of Peoria, one sister, Marie (Gerry) Welch of Glastonbury, Conn., and 18 grandchildren.
Janet was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph, and her son-in-law, John Austin, on May 12, 2010.
She graduated from the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston and then worked as a private secretary. In 1951, she won the beauty contest for the City of Everett, Mass. While living in Connecticut,
Janet was a member of the Daughters of Isabella. Janet was also a Cursillistas in Peoria.
While raising her family, Janet volunteered as a teaching assistant at St. Patrick School in Washington, where she also was a volunteer driver for the athletic teams for many years. She also helped provide meals for St. Pat’s funeral luncheons. She was a member of St. Patrick Church in Washington, where she was elected and served on the first Parish Council. To her children, she will be remembered for her constant love, support and faithful strength in her long battle with MS.
Janet enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles and watching quiz shows. She also enjoyed vacations and being near the ocean, especially in Ogunquit, Maine. She will be greatly missed by her family.
A funeral mass for Janet was Saturday, July 3, 2010, at St. Patrick Church in Washington. Father Joseph P. Donton officiated. Visitation was Friday at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington, and Saturday at the church. Burial was in Hillcrest Memory Gardens in rural Morton.
Memorial donations can be made to St. Patrick School, 100 Harvey St, Washington, IL, 61571.
Janet’s memorial website is available at www.deitersfuneralhome.com where condolences may also be sent to the family.
