Janet Lynn Schroeder

HUNTINGTON, NY

Janet Schroeder, 67, passed away early Wednesday morning, March 26, 2025, due to kidney failure. She was a woman who cared much and gave much all of her life.

Janet was born in Rockville Centre, New York, on August 9, 1957, to Allan and Ruth Swanson, joining brother Richard and sister Carol. The family moved from their home in Uniondale, Long Island, to Melville, where she grew up. She attended and graduated from Walt Whitman High School.

Janet was a hard worker and accomplished everything she put her mind to. She worked her way through Suffolk County Community College and then Dowling College, receiving ggffa bachelor's degree in business. She worked the floor at Martin's Department Store until joining the Long Island Lighting Company in 1979, rising from file clerk to project manager during her 16-year career and earning a master's degree from Dowling, too.

After meeting her husband, Michael (she was one of the few who used his formal name), at the Central Presbyterian Church Sunday School, they married in 1988. They were wed 36 years, including moves back and forth across the country, many job changes and other adventures. Her first move to northern California led her to a new career of service. A volunteer position with a church school grew to running its business operations, as well as fill-in tasks helping children and residents.

When they returned to the East, Janet continued her education to become an administrator. She took jobs as business director at charter schools in Roosevelt and the South Bronx, finding her biggest joy in helping kids -- sometimes traveling six-hour round trips via train and subway to do it. She would launder their clothes if they needed cleaning or bring them special gifts, kneeling with encouragement when she noticed tears or frowns.

Janet joined the family newspaper business as controller and human resources director in Boston, Connecticut and New York. She kept things on track, organized as always. At the same time, she kept an immaculate home -- despite her husband.

All the while she integrated her faith into her work, and served as an elder and volunteer as a member of Central Church.

She retired in 2023, only to devote her time to volunteering at the Helping Hand Rescue Mission in Huntington Station, where you could see her talking to anyone she saw who needed a good word or a warm coat.

Janet is survived her husband, brother Richard Swanson (Claire), sister Carol Christensen (Philip); nephews Thomas (Margaret Ellen) and Jon Christensen, and Mark Swanson (Rachel), and niece Anna Finegan (Sean). She was especially close to friends Steve and Sylvia Ruinsky and their daughters Tai and Mollie.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held Saturday, April 5, at Central Presbyterian Church, 240 Main St., Huntington at 10 a.m., with a committal at Huntington Rural Cemetery, 555 New York Ave. A reception will be held at the church following the service, which will be broadcast on Zoom and recorded on the church's website.

In lieu of flowers, gifts to Helping Hand Rescue Mission, 225 Broadway, Huntington Station, NY 11746 or to the church would be appreciated.

Janet Lynn Schroeder