Janet Jones Shipp

Janet Jones Shipp, beloved mother, devoted daughter, loving fiance, caring sister and aunt, loyal and unconditional friend, died December 9 at Norwalk Hospital, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was 64 years young.

Janet was born the daughter of Eugene Douglas Jones and the late opera singer Betty Jones of Wilton, CT. on June 22, 1957 in Zorzor, Liberia, West Africa. She was gifted and multitalented and mastered skills in both dance and music.

Janet grew up in a musical household nurtured by the influence of her late mother who sang all over the world. She was greatly influenced by a constant flow of all types of music including a lot of opera. So of course Janet sang with The Madrigals at Wilton Senior High School, the Wilton Congregational Church Choir, Music on the Hill and local shows.

She attended Middlebury College majoring in dance and danced in the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City for three years. Dancing was Janet's passion, but eventually she got her MBA at the University of Bridgeport. She worked at Glencore, an Anglo-Swiss multinational commodity trading company, where she worked for 34 years. As a dedicated employee she worked up to the last moments.

Janet was previously married to Nathaniel W. Shipp, and they had two sons together Wesley and Hunter. Janet was predeceased by two other sons, Nathaniel Wesley Elijah Ship III and Wesley Elijah Shipp who died in infancy.

Janet was an amazing and devoted Mother supporting her sons at sporting and school events, musicals and stage productions in Wilton as well as at their college events and graduations. She was able to seamlessly balance work and be a supportive mother. Janet was always very supportive to her friends and co-workers. She attended her high school and college reunions keeping those friendships alive over the years.

Some of Janet's favorite pastimes, beside singing, were attending live opera performances and having music surround her in the car. She was also a movie buff and knew every movie, every actor and actress in the musicals and classics. She also loved watching competitive ice skating.

Janet is survived by her father Eugene Douglas Jones, her sons Hunter Shipp and Wesley Shipp, her brother Jeffrey Allen Jones, her sister- in-law Joanne Levey Jones, her nieces Samantha Jean Jones, Korbi Banks and Brandis Noelle Dean, and her sons' grandmother, Gigi Van Dyke.

Janet was always very involved with her extended family, and enjoyed being with them for any occasion because her family and friends were very dear to her. Her sons showed her love, strength and kindness while caring for her. They were heroic throughout her illness and she greatly appreciated everything they did for her. Her besties Sarah, Maggie and Beth were never far from her side. Throughout her illness they were in touch daily….she will be missed.

Janet was engaged to be married to her college sweetheart Curtis Singleton of Savannah, Georgia and was looking forward to "sitting and holding hands and growing old on the sand together at the beach."

A memorial service will be held at the Wilton Congregational Church in Wilton, CT. 70 Ridgefield Road on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 11a.m. Details for on line streaming of the service will be made available soon.

In lieu of flowers donate to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater or American Cancer Society