Janet Louise Alfieri

Janet Louise Alfieri (née Duff), 86, passed away peacefully at Memorial Hospital on December 13th from stroke complications, her children by her side.
Janet was born March 7, 1939 to George Cruikshank Kemp Duff and Rosalind Hillman (née Murray) in Webster MA, the middle of five children born within seven years. She is survived by her daughter Marisa; son Tony (Amanda); grandchildren Chelcee, Gibson and Geneva; sister-in-law Dolores (Keith); and sister-in-law Marjorie. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews including Tina, Keith, Heather, and Jonathan, and innumerable friends and neighbors who miss her dearly. Janet lost her son, James L., in 2015 and her husband of 62 years, James A., in April 2025.
As a child, during a harsh Massachusetts winter, Janet watched the Rose Parade in sunny Pasadena on television and became determined to someday move to California. After graduating from Simmons College in Boston in 1961 with a degree in Physical Therapy, she relocated to Oakland, CA where she met the love of her life and fellow New England transplant, James. The two married in 1963 and, with their two young children, lived and worked across Northern California before settling in the Woodside neighborhood of Bennett Valley in 1972.
Janet practiced Physical Therapy in Santa Rosa and then throughout Sonoma County through home healthcare. After retiring in 2004, she volunteered extensively with organizations including Los Guilicos, The Living Room, Team In Training, St. Eugene's Cathedral, and by giving rides to any and all who needed one.
Janet was a lifelong sports fanatic, rooting for the Raiders, Warriors, Cal, and her beloved A's through highs and lows. She was fortunate to witness firsthand Don Larsen's perfect game in the '56 World Series, Wille Mays' "basket catch," and Dallas Braden's perfect game at her favorite sports venue, The Oakland Coliseum.
She was a dedicated cat mom, tea aficionado, movie buff, and local café regular. She read voraciously and is probably still on a wait list for new books at the library. She honored her Scottish heritage with a thistle tattoo and by celebrating St. Andrew's Day each Nov. 30 with shortbread and sometimes something stronger than tea. She visited all 50 states, but loved none more than her adopted California.
Janet has been described by loved ones as loving, caring, thoughtful, big-hearted, someone to whom you could bare your heart and truly saw you. She was more than one person's best friend. Her spirit can be symbolized by her favorite flower, the California golden poppy – delicate, resilient, and shining. You are always with us, mom.