Janis Atha

1951 - 2022

Janis Atha
3/19/2022
NAPLES, FL -- Janis K (McCarthy) Atha, 70, longtime resident of Darien, Conn., recently of Norwalk, Conn., and Naples, Fla., died Saturday, Mar. 19, in Naples after a short but determined struggle with cancer. Janis' husband, Stuart Kimball Atha, and her three children were able to gather as a family at her bedside for her final moments.
Janis grew up in Paoli, PA, graduating from Conestoga High School. Janis pursued a degree in early childhood education from Villanova University. She married Sandy Sarcione in 1971 and started her family with the birth of their daughter, Lisa. Janis was widowed at a young age under tragic circumstances, but soon met her second husband, Stuart, who she would be married to for 42 years until her passing.
Janis spent much of her young married life tending to her growing family and moved frequently to support Stuart's career. This led her from West Chester, PA, to Deerfield, IL, Fairfield, CT, Mission Hills, KS, Ladue, MO, before finally settling long-term in Darien, CT.
In Darien, Janis became a fixture in the community. She began her 30-year career at First Congregational Nursery School where she left a lasting impression on all she taught. Her long tenure as a teacher, Assistant Director and most recently a floating teacher, made her the fabric of the school. Nicknamed by her peers the "energizer bunny", Janis was always a devoted, loving, and fun person to work with. With her long-time teaching partner, Patty Giesen, they worked with hundreds of children and their families. Janis would never forget a child she taught, or their family, and she relished bumping into all her past students around Darien and giving them a loving hug.
Outside of the classroom, Janis was equally active. After a long day of classroom activities, she enjoyed walking her Labrador retriever for her regular five-mile loop. Her daily walks gave her time to recharge and chat with friends and neighbors along the way. She was an avid reader, needle pointer, and golfer. Early on, Janis learned to play golf so that she could spend more time with her sons and so became a skilled golfer in her own right. She loved playing with her friends and family at her home course of Country Club of Darien, where she had been a member since 1990.
Janis' greatest joys in life were her children and grandchildren. She formed a deep and loving connection with each of them. She spent countless hours cooking her well-loved meatballs, brownies, and sugar cookies, cheering on the sports sidelines, and making frequent trips to her grandchildren in Illinois. She ensured trips to Grandma's house always involved action and special moments. She truly enjoyed when two of her own grandchildren were able to attend First Congregational Nursery School under her loving watch.
Janis leaves her husband, Stuart K. Atha, and three children, Lisa (Atha) Speed (husband Todd Speed) of Northbrook, Ill., Andrew H. Atha (wife Lindsay) of Darien, CT., and Douglas K. Atha of Naples, FL. She also leaves four grandchildren, Laurel Speed and Scarlett Speed and Kimball Atha and Andrew Atha Jr.
Janis was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Josephine (Houston) McCarthy and her brother, Michael McCarthy. She is survived by her older sister, Christine Shank, and her younger sister, Megan Florence.
Janis' life will be remembered in funeral services to be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 5 at Saint Thomas Moore Church, Darien, CT. Reception will follow at the Country Club of Darien.
Memorial donations in Janis' name can be made to the First Congregational Nursery School Playground Fund, 14 Brookside Road, Darien, CT. 06820, attention to Krista Guarini.