Janet Fox Stockhoff

Janet Anne Stockhoff (née Fox), 91, of West Grove and formerly Chester Springs, PA, passed away Wednesday, January 13th, 2021, at Jenner's Pond Retirement Community. She was the daughter of the late Charles Mayborn Fox and Rebekah (Ruby) Thompson of Findley Lake, NY, and the loving wife of 63 years to Ernest Stockhoff.

Jan was born in Findley Lake, a town founded by her ancestor Alexander Findley. She graduated from South Park High School 206 in Buffalo, NY, where she played violin in the orchestra, and received a BA in German from the University of Buffalo with minors in English and History. It was there that Jan met Ernest Stockhoff, the love of her life, when he audited a German 101 class she was teaching. Jan completed a year of postgrad work at the University of Cincinnati, received her teaching certificate, and taught English, Latin, and French at Chautauqua High School. Jan enjoyed sewing (particularly Halloween costumes, like her mother), Slavic folk music, tending her perennial garden, and reading murder mysteries. She was a longtime member of Central Presbyterian Church, Downingtown, PA, and Ruth's Circle Bible study group. As a lifelong supporter of the civil rights movement, she and her family hosted several children through the Fresh Air Fund. She and her husband enjoyed traveling to Germany with family, and later to France and Britain. Her marriage, children, friendships, and conversation brought her great joy. She was a humble, kind, and deeply caring woman and will be greatly missed. We will remember her: Contentment when reading to herself (with a cup of Constant Comment) and her children; her joy playing the piano (often while waiting for family to head out somewhere); her pleasure while playing her recorder in the screen-house in the woods; her delight in creating arts and crafts; her fondness for Findley Lake, and her love and care for creatures of all types and sizes.

In addition to her husband Ernest, Jan's memory lives on in her children, Cynthia Marie Stockhoff Leyendecker (Bob), David Alan Stockhoff (Christina), and Brian Andrew Stockhoff (Isabel); grandchildren Cullen and Avery Stockhoff, Kate and Kara Leyendecker, and Amelia Stockhoff.

Jan was preceded in death by her sister, Margaret Alice Fox Chmiel.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet's honor can be made to The Nature Conservancy: https://www.nature.org/en-us/membership-and-giving/donate-to-our-mission/other-ways-to-give/honor-and-tribute-giving.

Services will be conducted privately by the Central Presbyterian Church, Downingtown, PA.

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