Janet M. Mitchell

Janet M. (Peterson) Mitchell, 90, passed away peacefully at home on January 16, 2024, with her loving family by her side.  Born on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1933, in Worcester, MA to Robert W. Peterson and Ethel C. (Ekman) Peterson, Jan grew up in Worcester and Holyoke before moving to West Springfield during her sophomore year in high school.  She graduated from W.S. High School in 1951 and attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst majoring in the Biological Sciences, before marrying her high school sweetheart Paul and moving with him to Virginia where he was stationed with the Navy.  Jan and Paul returned to West Springfield six years later, where they built a home and started their family.  Jan and Paul loved to entertain their many close friends as often as possible, and Jan belonged to several different bowling leagues and many different bridge clubs throughout her life.  Jan started her work career at Speed & Hegeman Real Estate as a real estate broker and then spent almost 25 years at T.P. Daley Ins. Agency, retiring as their comptroller in 1998.  Most recently, Jan had been volunteering her time at the Cancer House of Hope, a cause that was very important to her.  It was also very important to Jan to give back to her community, and she served on many boards and held many prestigious roles during her lifetime.  In 1976, Jan became the first woman elected vice-chair of the town’s Finance Committee, serving on the sub-committee for schools, and in 1978, she was elected to the role of Chairperson for the Finance Committee, becoming the first woman to occupy that post in the town’s then 202-year history.  She was also elected to and served a three-year term as a Town Assessor, was a Director of the Providence Hospital in Holyoke, MA, was a former President of the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club and later served on their Board of Trustees, and was a Town Meeting Member for many years.  Jan was also a member of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women and in 1980 was honored as ‘Woman of the Year’ during National Businesswoman’s Week.  Jan also served as the President of the Ramapogue Junior Women’s Club and, as an avid golfer, was a long-time member of the Springfield Country Club.  Although Jan and Paul never got to share their ‘golden years’ together as they had planned, Jan was blessed to meet Gerald Finn a few years after Paul’s death in 1998, and both enjoyed many years of golfing and watching women’s basketball together before Gerry’s passing in 2014.  Janet is survived by her two beloved daughters, Judith L. Dickson of Wilmington, MA and Sandra L. Rossman of West Springfield, her grandchildren Michelle Rossman of Wilmington, MA and Drew Rossman of West Springfield, her three additional ‘daughters’, Robin Finn, Cynni Finn and Deb Arons, and her three nieces.  She is predeceased by her husband Paul, her partner Gerry, and her sons-in-law Atwood Dickson and Todd Rossman.  A private family burial will be held in the spring.  Jan would wish for those who would like to make a donation in her memory, to please consider a donation to Cancer House of Hope, 1999 Westfield Street, West Springfield MA 01089 or to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104.