Janet Battey

Janet Sweet Battey Resident of Walnut Creek Janet Sweet Battey (n‚e Janet Maude Sweet) was born on October 5th, 1924 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. She was the daughter of George Albert Sweet and Eleanor Davis Sweet. She died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of May 18th, 2009 after a protracted illness. Janet is survived by her 3 children: James F. Battey Jr. (his wife Frannie Battey); Janet Maude Battey Dodson; and Ellen Elizabeth Battey Griffith (her husband Jim Griffith). Her loving grandchildren are Daniel S. Dodson (and his wife Nikki), Jason D. Griffith, Michael G. Battey, Molly A. Dodson, Sarah E. Dodson, Monica T. Griffith and James J. ("JJ") Battey. Lastly, she is survived by her sister, Miriam (Dee) Slosek and her brother "BG" Sweet. Janet graduated high school at the age of 16. Janet, (known as Maudie to her friends) entered Radcliffe &[Harvard&] College in the fall of 1941 and graduated at the age of 20, in 1944. She managed this accelerated program in order to contribute to the defense of our country in World War II. She enlisted, as an officer, in the US Navy on October 25th, 1944. Along with her lifelong friend Joan Keenan she participated in the war effort with the Navy until August 14th, 1946, when she was discharged holding the rank of Lieutenant and Communications Intelligence Officer. She remained in the US Naval Reserve until October 1, 1956. Following her service in the US Navy Janet attended and graduated from Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School, and subsequently was an extremely successful secretary. Janet married her husband James F. Battey on September 21, 1949. James had also served in World War 11 (as a navigator in the US Army Air Force). Janet continued her career as a secretary while James earned his PhD at The Johns Hopkins University. They lived in Maryland and Massachusetts and moved to the San Francisco Bay area in the 1960's. They owned a home in Los Altos, CA for 45+ years. Janet lived in Walnut Creek, near her daughter Ellen since 2001. Janet was married to her husband James, who died on September 21, 2008, for 59 years. Janet was committed to education, and to the support of her loved ones. She volunteered in the local public school library, for the Radcliffe Club of the Peninsula and for the American Lung Association. Janet was an avid dog lover and she and James were extremely generous donors to several institutions of higher learning. Janet found particular joy in her role as grandmother and epitomized the "softer side" of the Battey clan. Janet loved to play, read, shop, walk, talk and in particular, laugh with her grandchildren. She was always at the ready to play hide-and-seek, a board game or to read a story to her grandchildren. She taught all of her grandchildren to play bridge - and was a patient and encouraging partner. A holiday did not go by without a card or gift from Grandma Battey arriving in the mail. She died surrounded by pictures, drawings and notes of thanks, love and appreciation from her children and grandchildren. Janet requested that she be cremated. Her family and friends will celebrate her life at a memorial gathering in the near future. Janet's late adult years were marred by medical complications of several strokes, which included significant visual disability. Memorial donations may be made in her name at: Development Department - Guide Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 151200, San Rafael, CA 94915-1200 (800-295-4050).