Janet M. Dawe

1935 - 2018

Janet Marie Petterson Dawe, age 82, passed away peacefully at her home in High Bridge, N.J. on Monday, February 19, 2018. Janet was born to Charles and Lillian Hixon on September 12, 1935 in Milford, MA. Janet and her two siblings, Lorraine and Charles II, spent their childhood in Hopedale, MA. Janet graduated from Hopedale High School and went on to earn her RN from Massachusetts General School of Nursing in Boston. In 1960, Janet started as a Nurse at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York City, where she worked for 35 years. She started in the Narcotics Rehab Center, and at the end of her career, she was a Discharge Planner in the Department of Social Work. Juggling parenting and work, Janet earned her Bachelors Degree at Marymount Manhattan College. She loved being a nurse and was passionate about her job. When she retired in 2005, Janets co-workers described her as an everyday hero, known for her calm strength, kindness and caring. In 1979, Janet attended her Hopedale High School reunion, where she re-met her former classmate, Thomas Dawe. The two fell in love, married and shared a deep commitment for 37 years. Tom preceded Janet in death on May 23, 2017. After retirement, Janet loved exploring New York City, traveling to visit her children and grandchildren in New Jersey, Colorado and California, and time spent with the Booth family in Canada and Litchfield, CT. In 2013, Janet had a stroke, so she and Tom moved to New Jersey to be closer to family. Janet was a loving, humble, supportive grandmother, mother, wife and friend. She will be greatly missed and forever live on in our hearts. Survivors include three daughters: Elisabeth Mary Petterson and her husband Alan Sanborn of Arcata, CA, Juliana Petterson McClain of Aspen, CO and Katharine Anne Petterson of High Bridge, NJ; seven grandchildren: Liam Sanborn-Petterson, Aidan Sanborn-Petterson, Zachary McClain, Ian McClain, Nicholas Haik, Amanda Haik and Oliver Haik; one brother: Charles Hixon of Rochester, NY and one sister: Lorraine Fafard of Hopedale, MA; many nieces and nephews; step-children: Peter Dawe, Teresa Dawe DApolito, Laura Dawe Wiley, and Joe Dawe. Arrangements by Scarponi-Bright Funeral Home in Lebanon, N.J.