Janet Smith Dore

Janet was born on February 6, 1949 in Washington, D.C. and spent her childhood in McLean, Virginia. She graduated with a degree in philosophy from Mount Holyoke College. The Saturday after her college graduation, she married the person who would be her husband for almost 54 years. She leaves her husband, Robert F. Dore, Jr. (“Bob”) and four children: Jason S. Dore, who lives in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; Benjamin R. Dore who lives in Atascadero, California with his wife Kyra R. Patterson and their two sons, Will and Eli; Timothy E. Dore who lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife Cailin R. Dore and their two sons, Charlie and John; Emily C. Dore, who lives in Amherst, Massachusetts with her husband Michal Horný and their daughter, Louisa. Janet is also survived by her sister, Catherine J. Smith, who lives in Worcester, and her brother Richard E. Smith and his wife Lesley, who live in Hastings, Minnesota, and their children and grandchildren. 

Janet was co-president of the PTA of the local grammar school. Janet was also the co-founder of the Child Assault Prevention Project of Greater Worcester, Inc., known as “CAP.” She spent countless hours speaking to young students about how to avoid assault by grownups and what to do if they were assaulted. She also spoke to innumerable grammar schoolteachers and members of various law enforcement agencies about how to recognize a child who had been assaulted and what to do with that knowledge, both mandatory and supplemental responses.

Janet was an accomplished painter who exhibited her work at ArtsWorcester and the Fitchburg Art Museum, among other venues. She loved going to museums, the ballet, and the theater. She loved to travel, spending many of her last summers on river cruises with her husband across Europe. She read constantly, whether it was the New York Times, the New Yorker, Jane Austen, or another favorite book of fiction. She loved a good meal and a good glass of wine, and cooked countless delicious dinners that her family will never forget. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who has passed down her kind and giving spirit, her intelligence, and her silliness and joy. She will be greatly missed.

Janet developed early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in 2019. In May 2022, Janet and her husband sold the home they loved in Holden, Massachusetts, and moved to Newbury Court, a “continuing care retirement community,” in Concord, Massachusetts. A few months later, Janet began residence in a secure memory unit known as “the Gardens” located within Newbury Court. She received exceptionally wonderful care from all of the staff in the Gardens. There are simply too many wonderful members of the staff to try to name them all, but we thoroughly appreciate the professional and devoted care they provided to Janet.

A service will be held for friends and family at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider donating in Janet's memory to:
Down Syndrome Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital
125 Nashua Street, Suite 821
Boston, MA 02114-1111.

Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742  978-369-3388  www.concordfuneral.com