Obituary of Janet Card

Janet (Reynolds) Card, 92, of Westbrook, CT, passed away peacefully on Sat., Sept. 26, 2015 with her husband of almost 67 years, Cecil, at her side, holding her hand. Janet had been a patient at Middlesex Health Care Center since suffering a massive stroke in mid-May. Janet was born in Meriden, CT on May 19, 1923 to the late Margaret (Thompson) Reynolds and Clayton E. Reynolds. She grew up primarily in Unionville, graduating from Farmington High School and then the Teachers College of CT (now Central Connecticut State University). Her first teaching position was at Farmington High School where she was barely older than many of her students having skipped two grades in elementary school and completing college in record time. As a young woman in her 20's, she and one of her girlfriends embarked on a major road trip in an old jalopy which frequently broke down. This was at a time when young women didn't do these things but they had many fun adventures and no regrets. Janet and Cecil were married on Nov. 27, 1948 in Unionville and lived in that town until moving to Clinton in 1961 and then to Westbrook in 1971. Janet taught 5th grade for many years at the Main St. School in Old Saybrook. After retiring, Janet and Cecil traveled throughout the United States and visited each of the 48 contiguous states at least once. They started out in a converted van, and then went on to a new van pulling bigger and bigger trailers as the years went on. Many times during the summer months they would have two or three grandchildren with them. As Janet was a life long history buff, historical sites were a must. Eventually, Janet and Cecil downsized to an RV but continued to travel into their early 80s. Janet interests in life were many. As a more than 50 year member of the First Church of Christ Congregational in Clinton, she was a Sunday school teacher, served as the superintendent of the Sunday school and for many years was actively involved in the Summer Fair running the book room and, with Cecil, the Dime-a Dip Supper. Until recently, Janet supported every bake sale that was held by working at it or at least baking for it. Janet was a voracious reader and throughout the years belonged to several different book clubs. She was also a passionate animal lover which meant that all family pets had been rescued from various situations. Her final "pet" was a wild turkey-Mr. Turk-who pecked on the back door regularly looking for her! Janet looked forward to doing and completing the daily crossword puzzle in The Hartford Courant. Her homemade bread was a family favorite. Besides her husband, Cecil, Janet is survived by children, Candace (and fiancé George Sima) Casale of Haddam, Priscilla (Paul) O'Connell of Middletown and Robert (Adriana) Card of Sugar Hill, Georgia. Grandchildren Katherine (Michael) Tabak of Middletown, Robert (partner Monica Nowosadko) Casale of Higganum, Matthew and Jonathan O'Connell of Middletown, Valerie (Greg) Esteban of Shanghai, China, Allison Card of Smyrna, Georgia, and Emily Card of Sugar Hill, Georgia, and great grandchildren, Alexis and Preston Tabak of Middletown. Also surviving Janet is her sister Nancy (Donald) Peltier of Avon and many nieces and nephews and their children. She was predeceased by her brother Robert Reynolds, and two grandchildren, Michael and Sarah O'Connell. The family would like to thank the staff at the Middlesex Health Care Center for the loving and compassionate care they provided to Janet and a special thank you also, to the Middlesex Hospital Homecare Hospice Staff who became involved in her care more recently. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 2, 2015 at 11 AM at the First Church of Christ Congregational in Clinton. A private burial will be held at the VA Cemetery in Middletown at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Valley Shore Animal Welfare League, 647 Horse Hill Rd., Westbrook, CT 06498 or to the First Church of Christ Congregational, Route 1, Clinton, CT 06413. To share a memory of Janet or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements by Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook.