Janet Rose, community activist who passed away July 22, had a love for life, love for family, and love for people.
‘The first thing that pops into my mind when I think of Janet is that she was always begging us (Clarkston Village Players) to perform the melodrama ‘Little Mary Sunshine,?? said Marlene Sewick. ‘She reminds me of sunshine, she waltzed through everything with a smile.?
Janet Rose was born in 1916 in New Hampshire, but spent most of her life in Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from Ohio State University with a master’s degree in elementary education. She moved to Clarkston after she married her husband Pete in 1947, whose parents lived at Deer Lake Farms off Dixie Highway.
Pete and Janet moved into the basement of the barn that had been converted into an apartment after Pete returned home from World War II. Janet and Pete had four sons Hugh, Chris, Patrick, and Stephen.
Janet spent the early years of her children’s lives teaching a nursery school (pre-school) in the basement of the barn. It was a half day program and about 15-20 kids.
‘She used to say it was a way for people to pay her to play with her children,? said Stephen’s wife Esther with a laugh.
When youngest son Stephen started first grade, Janet started teaching Kindergarten in 1961 at Clarkston Elementary and later taught first grade. She retired from teaching in 1978.
When she taught first grade she would have a formal first grade Christmas party at the barn.
‘At the first grade parties she taught the youngsters how to be ‘correct,?? said Esther. ‘Speak correctly, how to introduce people to each other. The manners that you don’t always get from either being out in the world or even in your own home, sometimes thats one of the things that goes by the waste side. She helped with that. They had to be able to introduce their parents, say please and thank you, and shake hands.?
In the early 60’s Janet and Pete built a large dining hall on the second floor of the barn, which became the ‘party house? over the years.
‘It (the barn/house) was very welcoming,? said Esther.
The barn also included a regulation size above ground swimming pool inside the barn, and the loft was converted into a basketball court, with a free throw line and a regulation 10-foot hoop.
Janet was ‘very community minded.? She was a founding member of the Clarkston Village Players, helped start the Independence Township Library, a member of the Garden Club, Woman’s Club, Dance Club, SCAMP, Clarkston Historical Society, Red Cross blood drive, and the Land Conservancy.
‘She wouldn’t cut down a tree to save a building,? said Esther. ‘She had a really hard time when other people cut down trees. She would go to the back of the farm and other people’s property when she heard the chainsaw going, so she could yell at them for cutting down trees.?
One thing both Patrick and Stephen recall about their parents was the love they shared with each other.
‘I never remember a cross word between my mother and father,? said Patrick. ‘I don’t ever recall them parting ways without kissing each other. My dad always kissed her in the morning to say goodbye, they were a very loving couple.?
‘They set a standard that’s hard for anybody to hit,? said Esther.
According to Patrick and Esther, Janet lived by the rule that ‘if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.?
Pete and Janet did everything together.
‘They were inseparable,? said Stephen.
Pete was one of the major actors for The Village Players.
‘Mom didn’t really like to act if it required too many lines,? said Patrick. ‘She was ok being on stage, she just didn’t want to have to remember any lines.?
Janet did some directing and producing, but her key role was to provide the cast party at the barn.
‘She threw the best parties,? said Sewick.
Janet was also the ‘Den mother? for the Cub Scouts.
‘She had no problem raising the four boys. She always said that girls would have been much harder, so she was always glad that she had the boys to deal with,? said Esther.
Janet was known wherever she went, rather it be the grocery store or just walking down the street.
Patrick said he was always amazed that his mother could recognize kids.
‘These were kids that she had when they were 6, they’re now 56. She would say ‘oh there’s little Timmy,? it was like ok how do you see that?? said Patrick.
Janet was a part of a bridge club and when bridge club members got upset that there was too much talking going on, Janet and a few friends started ‘The Talking Bridge Club.?
‘They got together to talk and if some bridge happened that would be nice,? said Stephen.
She was also apart of the church golf league.
‘She was one of those people that after she retired said ‘I don’t know how I had time to work,?? said Patrick.
She was also very involved in the lives of her grandchildren. Her granddaughter Elise Rose also wrote the eulogy for the funeral.
‘Janet Rose had a heart that knew no bounds,? said long time friend Jean Saile.