Janet Elaine Belknap

JANET ELAINE BELKNAP, aged 71, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2025, at Passages Hospice in New Orleans, Louisiana. Janet was born June 21, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan, to Donn Richard Belknap (June 24, 1927 - Nov. 29, 2014) and Elaine Ella Belknap (née Johnson) (Oct. 12, 1927 - Feb. 21, 2015). As a child she was especially close with her grandfather, Hartwell A. Johnson, and her best friend Judie. She graduated from Lee M. Thurston High School in Redford Township, Michigan (Class of 1971). After a brief first marriage, Janet moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., and enrolled at Grand Valley State College. There she met and started dating a young improv theater performer and U.S. Army veteran named Thomas Andrew Toohey, later known professionally to New Orleans television audiences as Tom Foote. In the summer of 1979, Janet and Tom traveled together through Europe, busking in public squares and streetcorners, Tom as a mime and Janet playing the flute. In 1980, Janet and Tom moved to New Orleans, La., where they were married and had two sons: Justin Belknap Toohey, born 1983, and Mark Belknap Toohey, born 1985. Janet attended Tulane University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology in 1987. After graduation, Janet felt she wanted to be closer to family again, so she, along with her husband and kids, moved first to East Lansing, then to Lansing, Mich. There, she divorced Tom, who moved away, and Janet worked hard for years thereafter, going to grad school at Michigan State University while working a full-time job at the MSU Museum. A single mom in a depressed economy with nothing in the way of outside help, Janet nevertheless managed always to keep a roof over her boys' head and food on the table. She attained her Master's degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State in 1997. After completing grad school, Janet began a new career working for Big Oil: she was recruited by the Amoco Corporation in 1998, which merged with BP less than a year later. She went to work as an executive in the Human Resources department of the company's North American headquarters in Chicago, and moved along with her two boys to Montgomery, Illinois. Janet retired from corporate life in 2008, at the age of 55, after having worked ten years at BP. In 2010 she moved back to New Orleans following the birth of her first grandchild there. For the last 15 years of her life she lived in a house at St. Mary and Prytania streets in the Lower Garden District, where she was known and loved by many supportive friends and neighbors. She worked part-time at Saucy's BBQ on Magazine Street with her close friends Rich and Gary. She spent uncountable hours of quality time on her front porch and with her granddaughter, Luna, whom she loved immensely. She charmed many and infuriated some with her wit, sarcasm, and strong opinions on a wide variety of subjects. As stubborn as a mule, she was also a pillar of strength to those closest to her; her determined perseverance, her everlasting resilience, and her stout independence stand as an inspiration that will endure long hereafter for her family. In addition to her two sons and her granddaughter, Janet is survived by her sister Nancy Lynn Morris, her niece Sara Elizabeth Gulick, as well as grand-niece Ella and grand-nephew Alex. A memorial will be held at Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home, located at 3827 Canal St., New Orleans, La. on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Visitation will begin at 10am, funeral at 11.