Obituary of Janet Guerere

RESCHEDULED SERVICES:

Viewing and funeral will be held Saturday February 20, 2021, viewing 10:00AM Funeral Liturgy 11:00AM.  Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery 

Janet Guerere (née Dondero) of Berlin, N.J., passed away peacefully on February 14th, one day shy of her 85th birthday. She is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years Nicholas Guerere, her son Keith (Kathleen), daughters Lynn Brennan (Larry) and Karen Guerere, her brother Francis (Margaret, dec’d) and sister Agnes Thompson (Robert). She was the loving and devoted Nonie to Nicholas (Dani) and Alex Guerere, Matt and Drew Brennan, and Kasey and Cole Chiumento. She is predeceased by her parents Francis and Celestine Dondero.

Born and raised in Vineland, N.J., Janet graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1954.She loved both the school and the nuns who taught her. She played varsity basketball and was voted Class Secretary in each of her four years at Sacred Heart. She was the lead in her high school play her senior year. After graduation she began work at City Hall in Vineland.

In 1959 she married Nicholas Guerere and soon after moved to Berlin. While her husband pursued a career in education, Janet set about creating a loving home. Together they raised three children into adulthood.

She was both spiritually and socially active in her community. She was past president of the Altar and Rosary Society of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, a PTA member, and local hospital volunteer. She was especially proud of her involvement with Berlin’s Marie Fleche Library Society where she was both president and Trustee.

In 1979 she was hired by the Eastern Regional High School District as an administrative assistant to the Special Services Director at Eastern High School in Voorhees, N.J. She worked in that capacity until her retirement in 1998.

She loved to travel with her husband and spend summer vacations with her children and grandchildren in Sea Isle. She was an avid reader and an accomplished bridge player. She had a great talent for crochet (she made baby blankets for all six grandchildren before they were born).She was a fantastic cook (love those pies) and a first rate crossword puzzle solver’s assistant to her son-in-law.

But of all of Janet’s titles and life accomplishments, none came close to the joy and satisfaction she felt being called “Nonie” by her grandchildren and being part of their happiness. Whether it was a hockey rink or basketball court, softball or soccer field, each grand kid knew their Nonie would be there to support them. Even in the most crowded of gyms amid packed bleachers, they could expect to hear their Nonie’s very loud (and sometimes even timely) trademark yell, “Anticipate!” spurring them on.

She leaves her family a wonderful legacy of memories that are filled with laughter and caring, and of humor and of love. If life can be measured on such qualities, then hers was certainly a life well lived.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on SATURDAY morning from 10:00AM to 11:00AM at the COSTANTINO-PRIMO FUNERAL HOME, 231 W. WHITE HORSE PIKE, BERLIN NJ 08009. Funeral Liturgy 11:00AM at the funeral home. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Berlin NJ. Due to the current regulations, face masks must be worn, and attendance will be limited to follow all COVID-19 guidelines. To leave lasting condolences or photos, please use the links on this page.