Janet Barnett
Janet Holdridge Barnett, 90, a life-long resident of Ledyard, died peacefully in her home on September 18, 2024. Janet was born on March 14, 1934 in Norwich, Connecticut to Paul O. Holdridge, Sr. and Mildred Manning Holdridge.
To Janet, life was beautiful. Whether at Long Pond, a 4-H meeting, or around a kitchen table, her true gift was her ability to bring people together. Those who entered Janet’s many circles were welcomed with compassion and curiosity, and often went away feeling truly seen and empowered.
Growing up in Ledyard, she attended the Geer Hill School, a one-room schoolhouse where, as an 8th grader, she helped teach younger students to read. She attended high school at Norwich Free Academy (NFA), and then went to UConn, earning a degree in Education and forming life-long friendships. While at UConn she met Frederick “Phil” Barnett, and they were married soon after graduation on June 19, 1955. They moved to Virginia while Phil served his country as a U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant, and moved back to Ledyard in late 1957, where she has lived ever since.
Janet and Phil had six children – David, Cathie, Jack, Larry, Bobby and Mark – and raised them in a loving home full of fun, family and friends, and tradition. They took numerous cross-country camping trips in a station wagon packed with kids, and spent lots of time outdoors, hiking, canoeing, swimming, skating, sledding and appreciating nature.
While raising her family, Janet returned to school to earn her Master’s Degree before embarking on a 27-year career at NFA teaching child development and family sociology. She founded and directed the NFA Child Care Center and GRADS (Graduation, Reality and Dual Role Skills) program, where she taught students how to foster health, happiness, and curiosity in themselves and their children. Many of those students became part of her extended family, remaining in touch with Janet and sharing their accomplishments for decades.
Janet and Phil continued to travel together after retirement, visiting 22 countries and hiking in every continent except Antarctica. After Phil’s passing in 2007, Janet continued to visit friends and family all over the country. At age 87, she joined her children on a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and went scuba diving with three of her sons. In recent years her nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren have been her “pride and joy” and “favorite companions.” In Janet’s words, “together we explore the world around us, build skills and confidence and learn to love and care for one another.”
Janet was active in 4-H for most of her life – as a member, summer worker, 4-H Fair officer, camp counselor, Assistant County Agent, and a club leader over several generations. She truly lived her life following: “I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service, and my HEALTH to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.” A healthy lifestyle was always important, as she ate nutritiously and exercised regularly – meeting friends for a walk, swimming across Long Pond, and attending fitness classes.
Janet was an active member of the Ledyard Congregational Church (LCC) her entire life. She was baptized, attended and taught Sunday School, and married there, and later served as Deacon and on the Missions, Women’s Fellowship and many other committees. For many years she coordinated the Amistad program, helping multi-language students do their homework and realize their strengths. Janet taught all those involved the value of helping others through her spirit and actions. Many of those children continued to involve Janet in their own family traditions as adults, and several have become teachers themselves. Janet was passionate about helping the LCC extend its reach into the community, coordinating monthly pot-luck “community suppers,” visiting elderly community members, and volunteering for other church events. Fittingly, Janet’s 90th birthday was celebrated in the LCC Fellowship Hall, where over 100 members of her family and friends came together to share stories, skits, and laughter.
In early August, Janet was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. She continued to live her final weeks with amazing grace, a positive spirit and her trademark smile. Janet will be dearly missed by her children, David (and Eileen) of Boxborough, MA, Catherine (and Kevin) of East Lyme, Lawrence (and Kim) of Moosup, Robert of Ledyard, and Mark (and Nichole) of Summerfield, FL; her nine grandchildren, Jake and Marie Barnett, Sara, Daniel and Mari Nazzaro, Michelle Bradley, Jenny Venanzi, Molly Harlow and Mason Barnett; her eleven great-grandchildren, Olivia, Audrey, Addison, Amelia, Oliver, Hannah, Hadley, Linden, Jack, Luca and Remi; and her sister Mary (and David) Foltz and brother David (and Sara) Holdridge. She was predeceased by her husband Phil, her son Jack, and her brother Paul Holdridge, Jr.
Funeral service will be held at the Ledyard Congregational Church on Friday, October 4th at 11:00 am, followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be private. Her family will greet relatives and friends for a continued celebration of Janet’s amazing life at the Holdridge Pavilion in Ledyard Center (740 Colonel Ledyard Hwy) on Saturday, October 5th from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Funeral arrangements are provided by Dinoto Funeral Home (www.dinotofuneral.com). In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Janet’s memory to the Ledyard Congregational Church (www.ledyardcongregational.org and select “Janet Barnett Memorial Fund” or send check to LCC at 722 Colonel Ledyard Hwy. Please remember Janet by taking a walk in the woods or lending a helping hand to a friend or someone in need.