Janice Gordon

Janice Gordon

Essex Junction - Janice Ann (Guyette) Gordon, age 81, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the Vermont Respite House after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She had her children and daughter-in-law by her side when she took her last breath.

She was born in Burlington, Vermont on July 7, 1937 to Graton and Betty Blackmore Guyette. Janice resided in Jericho and Essex her whole life where she worked in the restaurant business. First, as co-owner of Joe's Snack Bar with the father of her children, Joseph Rotunda Jr. then at Powell's Place with her very dear friend Pearl Farley. She was a staple at Frenchie's Diner waiting tables and joked that the sale of the restaurant included her when it was bought and renamed, A.J.'s Kitchen. She continued to serve up food and conversation, even after retiring in 2015 to her neighbors at Essex Town Meadows. Janice had a love for music and would spend nights out with friends dancing and socializing. Janice took many trips as well as hitting the casinos and local bingo halls, she liked to keep herself busy and productive and even in her downtime would create beautiful crocheted items for herself and her family. When she did sit down and relax it was always with a good book and her beloved cat, Babe. Janice always had a smile and kind words for anyone that crossed her path and rarely complained about her own aches and pains. She battled cancer with grace and dignity for 26 years but with even more determination, in the last year, in order to meet her newest great grandson, Oliver, who was born in November 2018.

Janice was predeceased by her parents, Graton and Betty Guyette, her brother Graton Guyette Jr., the father of her children, Joseph Rotunda Jr., her husband Loren Gordon, and special friend Wayne Chapman.

She is survived by her two children and their spouses Joe Rotunda III & Kim Safford Rotunda, and Kim Rotunda Brooks & Brent Osborne; her grandchildren, Joe (Jay) Rotunda IV, Carrie Rotunda Devereux and her Husband Will, Justin Brooks, and Amanda Rotunda Pugh and her Husband Chris; great grandchildren, Cerri Dube, Brielle Devereux, Porter Devereux, Wyatt Brooks, Logan Brooks, and Oliver Pugh; as well as Aria, Barb, and Marilyn her very special group of Lady Friends.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to Janice's amazing Hospice team. Thank you for guiding us Nancy Carlson and Jeanne Sullivan, we could not have done it without their support. Also, our thanks to Catherine and Shawna from Mansfield Place, for helping Janice as well as all of us, at such a difficult time.

There will be an hour of visitation this Saturday March 23, 2019 from 10:30 until 11:30 am with a Celebration of Life starting at 11:30 am at the Ready Funeral Home Mountain View Chapel 68 Pinecrest Drive Essex Junction. Burial will be held in the spring at Mountain View Cemetery in Essex. To place on-line condolences please visit www.readyfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to: Passion for Paws 53 Webster Road Shelburne, Vermont 05482. In Memory of Janice Gordon.