Janet Greenawalt Capitan's Obituary
JANET GREENAWALT-CAPITAN
Janet Greenawalt-Capitan passed away peacefully on Christmas morning surrounded by her loving family after losing her battle with bone cancer. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends and will be remembered by all who knew her as a kind, caring, helpful and loving mother, Nana and friend.
She was born Janet Rice in 1937 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to parents Miriam and George Rice. Janet attended Lebanon High School where she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Robert (Bob) Greenawalt. They were married on Christmas Eve in 1957, and were married for 55 years. She moved to Southern California for a couple of years where Bob finished his enlisted military service.
Soon after the birth of their son Robert Jr., they returned to Lebanon to be closer to family. Four years later they welcomed their daughter, Kathy. They lived as a family in Lebanon for nearly ten years before moving again, this time to Bucks County, PA. Janet worked full-time while raising her two children, first as a shipping clerk for a trucking company in Lebanon, then as a legal secretary for a small law firm in Quakertown, PA. However, it was her employment as a human resources assistant for the Riegel Paper Mill in Milford, New Jersey, which she found the most rewarding, a career position that spanned nearly 20 years. Janet loved getting to know and assisting the employees however possible. Many of whom remained lifelong friends. After retiring from the paper mill at age 62, she and Bob moved to Lewes, Delaware to be close to her daughter Kathy's family. She found great joy in her role as Nana and attended countless sporting events for Cape to cheer for her grandchildren's teams regardless of the weather conditions!
If you knew Janet, you couldn't help but feel comfortable around her. She had a quick smile, a fun personality and a warm heart. She was a genuinely positive person and rarely spoke negatively about anyone or anything. Janet always cared about looking her best when in public. She loved clothing shopping and had the full closets to prove it.
After her retirement, Janet became extremely active as a community volunteer. She and Bob delivered Meals on Wheels for over fifteen years, as well as worked many years at the Cape Henlopen Food Basket. One of Janet's greatest joys was volunteering as a cashier and interacting with customers at the New Life Thrift Shop. Janet was an active member of the Epworth United Methodist Church where she was treasurer of the United Methodist Women's Group for many years and volunteered in numerous capacities. She had a strong faith in God and was most certainly welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on Christ's birthday.
After Bob passed away in 2012, Janet continued with her active lifestyle, which included gardening, early morning walks with her "Walker Friends" of Gosling Creek, weekly Zumba classes at the gym, as well as line dancing. She forged close friendships easily, enjoyed socializing, and playing Bunko. Janet loved to travel and go on cruises to different parts of the world. Her destinations included Alaska, Ireland, Italy, the Caribbean, Israel and South America. For most of her adult life she enjoyed vacationing each summer in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with her family. She also made an annual trip to the West Coast, to visit her son Rob and his wife, Annie. Janet loved the beach and the water! She often went to Rehoboth to sit by the ocean and walk on the boardwalk. Janet was also an avid dog lover. She and Bob first had Dobermans and then later, came to love and raise Bull Terriers.
Several years ago, Janet was blessed to find love again when she met and married Paul Capitan in 2019. Janet and Paul lived together in Milton until she passed away. They were a wonderful and happy couple cherishing each day during the years they had together. Janet is survived by her husband Paul, her two children Kathy Shook (Bill) and Rob Greenawalt (Annie), her grandchildren Lindsey Geyer (Eddie) and Mike Shook (Clarissa) and her two young great grandsons, Edmund Geyer V and Laird Shook.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, on Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Please sign the virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com
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