Janet Matthews Parr
December 31, 1938 - January 17, 2022
Janet Matthews Parr, 83, of Newark, Delaware passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022, in Wilmington, Delaware, with family by her side. She was born on December 31, 1938, in Rochester, New York, to Henry Albert Matthews and Isobel Strachan Matthews. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Sandra Jean Matthews.
Janet had a long and distinguished career. She was a dedicated nurse with expertise in the hospital, public health, and geriatric care fields. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. After graduation, she worked at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, in one of the first Intensive Care Units in the USA. Janet worked in public health in Rochester and in Wilmington, Delaware. She had a voracious appetite for knowledge in her chosen field and was always reading to keep up with the latest medical research. She went on to earn her Master’s degree from the University of Delaware, specializing in Gerontology. Janet worked in the State of Delaware long-term care facilities at the Governor Bacon Health Center and the Emily Bissell Hospital, retiring as the Director of Nurses.
Janet loved music and was an accomplished pianist and singer. She attended Limestone Presbyterian Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir. She also enjoyed singing with the Northern Delaware Oratorio Society. She made wonderful memories with her friends in both choirs.
She is survived by her two daughters, Yvonne Newman and her husband, Aidan MacKerracher, of Evergreen, CO, and Audra Bensinger of Bear, DE; grandchildren, Andrew and Jenna Bensinger and Jude Mackerracher; sister, Martha Bailey; niece, Ellen Bailey; nephews, Matthew and Andrew Bailey; cousins, Mary Bennett (Hunt, NY), Leslie Knaup (CO), Daniel Matthews (WA), Steven Matthews (NY), and Barbara Matthews (NY); and cousin-in-law, Hilda McLeod (NY).
Thank you to Janet’s friends and staff at The Lorelton for their exceptional care, compassion and friendship.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 pm until 7 pm on Friday, January 21, 2022 at Limestone Presbyterian Church, 3201 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 7 pm. Face coverings will be required for all those in attendance regardless of their vaccination status. Interment will be held privately. Janet’s service will be live streamed for those that wish to attend remotely, please click here to attend the service.
If desired, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Janet’s name to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, 1012 14th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005, or online by clicking here.
Kate Taylor
With my sincere condolences on your mother’s passing to Yvonne and family. She sounds like she was an amazing woman, she made such a contribution to her communities and to her family. With best wishes, Kate Taylor and family (friend of Yvonne’s in Australia)
Kerri Williams
Condolences for your loss. Thinking of you every day and wishing you peace and comfort at this difficult time.
Rev. D Perkins
Our deepest condolences to you…What a wonderful woman! Thanks for letting us care for her–and you! Compassionate Care Hospice Chaplain Doug Perkins
Wendi Narvell
Ms. Parr was a wonderful lady. I met her when i was in high school with Audra. I remember many times sitting around the table at birthdays talking and she loved talking about her grandchildren. She will be dearly missed❤️
Kathy Hyde
So very sorry for your family’s tremendous loss. I remember Jan most from the Soup & Sharing on Christmas Eve several years ago. I always enjoyed chatting & laughing with Martha & Jan as we ate great soups & many homemade breads. I’ve missed that over these last years that Jan has not been well. You are all in my prayers.
Susie Esterly
Prayers for Janet Parr’s family. I enjoyed singing with Janet in Limestone’s Chancel Choir.
Janet F. Smith
The pandemic has kept us apart, but the memories of lunches and dance aerobics and long drives to VT for cross-country ski with Janet are firm and pleasing in my memory. Being with her was always comfortable: She was warm and undemanding, generous with her concern and compassion for others. Admirably, she continued to study her vocation whether she was working or not. She trusted me with visits to and from family members. She is surely still with me. With us.
Gail Lemmon Lloyd
I am so sorry to hear about Janet’s illness & passing. We have wonderful memories of her at parties in our home. I loved her bright outlook and sense of humor—a life well-lived. She will be missed.
THOMAS GREEN
God Bless you and your family and Miss Janet has been taken away from this world way to soon. God speed!!
Linda Carey
Martha and Family, I am so glad to have met Jan several times with you Martha and also singing with her. She was a beautiful, strong, loved woman always with a smile on her face. That is how I will remember her. Linda Carey
Frank
So sorry for your loss! She was a sweetheart!