Lenora M. (Levy) Jans

Lenora Margaret "Emily" Jans passed away peacefully on November 19, 2015 at Charlene Manor from a stroke. She was born on March 31, 1920 to Emma and Frederick Levy. Lenora was the first born daughter, second born child of six, and lived with her family in Morristown, NJ until she married Joseph Guthrie at age 19. With him she gave birth to three daughters: Joan, now living in Oregon, Dianne of Florida and Linda in Greenfield.

After Lenora's divorce, she raised her daughters alone, with very little financial help, by working in a department store that gave her the flexibility to tend to home matters. In 1967 she met Arthur "Bud" Jans at a wedding and a courtship and marriage soon followed. Bud was the love of her life. For the first time ever Lenora had a partner who had her interests at heart and who enabled her to become financially secure. She and Bud lived together in their cozy home in Saddle Brook, NJ until his death in October of 1989. They enjoyed family, camping, church and a long road trip across the U.S.

Lenora then lived alone in her Saddle Brook home following Bud's death for another 21 years until she needed daily support, which she had from her daughter Linda, while living at the Arbors Assisted Living in Greenfield.

Lenora was a shy but friendly woman with a smile and cheerfulness that warmed many hearts. While growing up she was a mother to her siblings while her parents worked full-time to support the family. She loved to cook and bake for her family and friends and always decorated her home for each season and occasion. Lenora loved playing cards and taught many folks new games. And like her three daughters, she developed a love for reading while at the Arbors.

Despite the difficulties in her own life, she always found time to befriend those less fortunate by doing quiet good deeds for a wide range of people. After her marriage to Bud, she became active at their neighborhood church and got special pleasure working in the woman's group making crafts for church benefit sales and crocheting lap robes for patients at Hackensack University Medical Center in NJ. Lenora's strong sense of social justice, which she instilled in her children, led her to support many causes not usually accepted by her peers.

Lenora is survived by her youngest brother Joseph in Asheville, NC, her daughters named above with Joan's husband, Russell and Linda's partner, Donna Brouillet, her five grandchildren: Leslie Alcaro (Mark), Nick Campbell (Kristen), Curt Campbell (Angela), Tova Felder (Andrew Pfaff), and Tara Iacovitti (James), and three great-grandchildren: Tyler Davis, Zoe Campbell, and Jesse Felder-Pfaff, and a large number of nieces, nephews and their offspring.

Services honoring the life of Lenora will be held in New Jersey at a later date in the Spring, when she will be buried next to her beloved husband Bud.

Memorial contributions can be sent to First Reformed Church of Saddle Brook, 5 Ackerman Ave., Saddle Brook, NJ 07663 or Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601

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