Janet M. Townsend

Janet Townsend, 83, of Greenville, SC, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2024.

She was born on February 13, 1941 in Armada, MI to John Townsend and Dorothy Cotton Townsend, the second of their five children. Prior to moving to Greenville in 2015, Janet lived in Rockaway and Wharton, NJ for 33 years, and Armada, Monroe, and Grosse Pointe Woods, MI for 42 years.

Janet earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University after starting her college life at the University of Michigan. She went on to earn her Master of Library Science degree from Wayne State University in 1980. The library is where Janet was most at home. She began her career as a librarian at Monroe High School in Monroe, MI but her longest tenure came as a Middle School Librarian at Copeland Middle School in Rockaway, NJ. It was there for almost 25 years she taught every eighth grader how to research, cite, and properly write a term paper – something she took immense pride in doing each year.

Janet was never a stranger to anyone and always had a kind word for everyone she knew or just met. She loved music, telling the story to her family that she saw “The King”, Elvis Presley, just three months before he passed away in 1977. She also told the story to her family every Thanksgiving of marching in the Hudson’s Thanksgiving Day parade in Detroit. From the parade route, they went to the old Tigers Stadium to play for the Lions game and march at halftime. It is a tradition that her family continues to tell with laughter and fond remembrance to this day.

Janet was predeceased by her parents and older sister, Joyce Bruder, and brother-in-law, Bob Van Daele.

Janet is survived by her two sons, Christopher DeWorken (Suzanne) of Rockaway, NJ and John DeWorken (Sunnie) of Greenville, SC. The light of her life were her five grandkids, Caroline (15), Sally (13), Hatch (6), Townsend (4), and Cotton Sims (3). She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Richard Bruder of High Point, NC; and siblings, Roger Townsend (Gail) of Armada, MI, Kathy Van Daele of Gaylord, MI, and Karen Berger (John) of Armada, MI. Along with those named here are nieces and nephews around the country.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any contributions be made in her name to the First Presbyterian Church, Rockaway, NJ.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024  at the First Presbyterian Church, Rockaway, N.J. A luncheon will follow at Anthony’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant, Rockaway, N.J. She will be missed by all those who knew her.

Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Janet with the family by clicking on the button labeled “Leave A Message, Share A Memory” below.