Janet Louise Lowry

Janet Louise Lowry (formerly Horvath, née Straub), 67, of Penn Hills, passed away February 11, 2026.

Janet was born October 13, 1958, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the late Evelyn A. and Willis B. Straub. She grew up in Highland Park, where she attended Sacred Heart high school.

After graduating from high school in 1976, she moved to California, Pennsylvania, where she attended college for her undergraduate degree. It was there in California that she met her first husband, Robert T. Horvath; they married on St. Patrick’s Day—March 17th, 1979.

She received her bachelor’s degree in education from California University of Pennsylvania in 1981 and a master’s degree in education in 1987. After teaching for a while, she pivoted and chose to become a nurse. She attended Washington Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1995.

Professionally, she was an elementary school teacher for a time, and on the side, she received a certificate for floral design. After getting her nursing degree, she worked as a registered nurse at a variety of hospitals in Pittsburgh including UPMC Shadyside, UPMC Montefiore, Canterbury Place, etc. Nursing was her great passion and life’s work; she was incredibly dedicated to the justice, dignity, and rights of her patients.

Janet’s interests in life were many. She loved plants and animals, nature and natural phenomenon, Broadway musicals, and was incredibly passionate about a number of social issues that were close to her heart, including animal welfare. She adored music, food, singing, cooking; she was known for throwing cookouts and parties for her loved ones as well as her generosity and selflessness.

Janet was also a devoted wife to her second husband Walter J.S. Lowry, whom she considered her best friend. They married June 20th, 2015 in Longport, New Jersey, and spent many vibrant years together. They enjoyed seeing shows from their favorite artists (e.g. Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind and Fire- as often as they came to town) catching musicals and plays in the cultural district in downtown Pittsburgh, visiting Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park, and attending Pittsburgh Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers games. She relished all of the more mundane but special moments of her marriage like attending home shows at the convention center with him, gardening in the back yard and making delicious meals together.

Janet’s memory will be forever cherished by her two children, Kelly A. Horvath of Pittsburgh, PA and Robert W. Horvath (Ashley) of Warminster, PA. Her grandsons Bobby, Jr. and Jack were the lights of her life. She is also survived by her former husband, Robert T. Horvath (Margie); her sister, Colette Nathan (Cary); many nieces and nephews; many cousins; and her beloved dog, Penny.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Walter J.S. Lowry; her sister, Marcia Straub; her beloved pets, Poe, Bitty, and Peeka.

Per Janet’s request, there will be no funeral service at this time. However, a memorial and celebration of her life will be held at the Steel Mill Saloon on Mt. Washington on February 28th, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her memory to Trash Cat Rescue or Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh:

Trash Cat Rescue: https://trashcatrescue.org/?page_id=90

Humane Animal Rescue: https://humaneanimalrescue.org/donate/