Janice May Lorenz passed on December 22, 2024, at BMC with her devoted husband of fifty six years at her side. The daughter of the late William and Marion (Hinkley) Fugman she was born in Pittsfield on August 17, 1948. She was schooled in Pittsfield and graduated from PHS the class of 1966.

Always on the go, she was dynamic and resilient. In her first fifteen years of marriage, she moved thirteen times and made her home in nine states and made many lasting friendships. She always was busy supporting her family. She held many different jobs from waiting tables at the International Arrivals Building in New York's JFK airport, to preparing taxes in St Mary's Georgia. After returning to Pittsfield and making her final home she sold real-estate, performed secretarial work for Berkshire Concrete, Yankee Heating and Plumbing, GE Plastics and her last employer Pittsfield Plastics. She also grew vegetables and herbs and sold them at the Berkshire Farmers market for twenty years.

She had quite the adventurous spirt and would often say she would try anything once. From skiing the Austrian Alps to parachuting in Orange MA or riding a roller coaster at one of the many theme parks she visited. She even tried her hand at golf. She had a fun loving side whether it was playing super hero with her youngest grandchild or taking a motor yacht from Greenwich Bay RI through NY city down the east coast to Oxford MD. She played MahJong with the wives in NY, played in Bridge clubs in St Mary's Georgia and Pitch league in Pittsfield. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Society. She visited many theme parks on the east coast and was not afraid to ride the fastest roll-a-coaster including but not limited to The Big Bad Wolf in Bush Gardens Williamsburg. She loved Disney World and visited it many times over the years from the 1970's to the present. Her last trip celebrated her fiftieth wedding anniversary accompanied by her entire family. Over the years she traveled overseas to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Great Britain. In her final years she loved taking long drives across this country on backroads to less traveled places in search of the best Lobster shack, the best pizza or triple D eateries. She visited 40 of our states before she ran out of road.

She was a good cook and a wonderful host for four or forty. She will be fondly remembered for the many family gatherings, picnics and clambakes she hosted at the farm. She loved to cross stitch and gifted many to family and friends. She was comfortable conversing with anyone from concrete mixer drivers to Admirals. She was often witty, delivering sarcastic one liners at just the right times.

Janice leaves her husband, Howard of 56 years, whom she married June 6, 1968; two daughters Erica White of Pittsfield, and Veronica Daigle of Manassas, VA; five grandchildren, Will White, Samantha White, Zachary Tumminello, Zoe Tumminello and Zia Elise Daigle. She was predeceased by her brother William Fugman Jr.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services will be held, Monday, January 6, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield. Burial will follow in Pittsfield Cemetery. Calling hours will be held, Sunday, January 5, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her name to the American Diabetes Association in care of Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

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Published by The Berkshire Eagle on Dec. 31, 2024.