Janet T. Gilligan

Janet “Jan” Therese Armstrong Gilligan, age 82, passed peacefully after a sudden illness on Thursday, October 18, surrounded by her family.

Jan was born and raised in New Rochelle, NY. She graduated from New Rochelle High in 1955,  went to business school, and then worked for the telephone company. In June of 1956, Jan met the love of her life, John Gilligan , and they spent the summer going to Jones’ Beach and getting to know each other.

John was scheduled to join the military at the end of the summer, and after he completed his training, they were married on February 22, 1957. This past year, they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. Throughout the years, Jan and John called many places home, including Schweinfurt, Germany; Bronx, NY; Old Greenwich, CT; Manassas, VA; Exton, PA; West Palm Beach, FL; and Ft. Pierce, FL.

Jan was an excellent home maker and could be found most often in the kitchen, baking specialty desserts and cooking her signature dishes. There is no one who can make as good a fried egg sandwich or fried rice as her. Everyone always said she should have written a cookbook or starred in a cooking show.

Jan’s hobbies included Mahjong, May I, walking in the pool, and going to lunch with the Red Hat Society members. A true friend, Jan kept in touch with neighbors past and present, relatives, coworkers, class mates, and card group members. Her cell phone was never out of reach. The most favorite hobby though, topping all the others was family - loving and talking about her kids and grandkids.

A devout Catholic, Jan prayed novenas every night and always had a long list of those who her intentions were being offered for. Many family friends and relatives benefited from her fervent prayer. She had an exceptional love for St. Pio (Padre Pio of Pietrelcina) and made many pilgrimages to his shrine in Barto, PA.  

Preceding Jan in her death were her parents Alice and John “Jumbo” Armstrong, sons Jimmy and Michael, her beloved mother-in-law Marguerite Sweeney Gilligan “Gram”, her sister Mary Armstrong Hurt, and her best friend Marylou Torbik.

Jan is survived by her husband, John; son Gary, daughter-in-law Kathy, granddaughters Jenna, Kristine, and Alexa; son Kevin, granddaughter Morgan, Kevin’s girlfriend Bernadette and her kids Jessica and Stephen; and daughter Patti Gilligan Bachman, son-in-law Mike, and grandsons Tommy, Matt, and Nick.

Jan was dearly loved and will be missed by all. She will be greeted with open arms at Heaven’s Gate to behold her Savior, Jesus Christ, his Mother Mary, Padre Pio, her loved ones who proceeded her in death, and all the angels and saints.

A funeral mass for Jan will be held on Monday October 22, 2018 at 10:30 AM from S.s Philip & James Church 723 E. Lincoln Hwy. Exton, Pa. where friends may call from 9:30 till time of mass.

Interment Private

Please send donations to The American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.

 “Don’t be sad that it’s over, be happy that it happened.”

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