Janet Guendel

Janet Guendel was born in Manhattan, New York City, and grew up in a Czech neighborhood. During her teenage years, her family moved to Czechoslovakia, where her father planned to open a hotel. After the Russian occupation took the hotel from him, the family escaped and returned to New York City.
Back in New York, Janet attended the High School of Music and Art and was accepted into the first class of the newly opened Fashion Institute of Technology. A gifted fashion illustrator and seamstress, she made all of her own dresses while in high school.
Janet met Walter Guendel at a dance, and they married in 1952. They moved to Long Island and raised five children; their first three were born only a year apart, followed by two more daughters. Walter was an educator in the Smithtown, New York, school district. Janet was kind, reserved, and introverted, while Walter was her outgoing opposite. Their personalities complemented one another beautifully.
Creativity remained an important part of Janet’s life. She was talented in painting and drawing, enjoyed gardening, and was an avid reader. Intelligent and curious about other cultures, she traveled throughout Europe with Walter. He served as travel director for the Smithtown Adult Education program, and Janet worked alongside him as his assistant.
After Walter passed away in 1993, Janet eventually moved to Jamestown, North Carolina, to be near her daughter Alison. She lived there for about 30 years and played tennis three times a week until she was approximately 85 years old. She also treasured summers in the mountains of Pennsylvania.
Janet moved to Abbotswood in February 2024, where she enjoyed the companionship of her wonderful new friends, Her life was filled with family, art, books, travel, gardening, tennis, and quiet strength.
Janet is survived by her daughters, Deborah, Marci, and Alison; her grandchildren, Alexandra, Larissa, Serge, Janelle, and Steven; and her great-grandchildren, Sean, Sophia, Colton, Eloise, Caroline, and August. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; her son, Kenneth; and her youngest daughter, Cynthia.
Janet lived a full and remarkable life and will be deeply missed.

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