Janet L. Cole

Janet L. Cole, 84 of Honesdale, PA and formerly Poughkeepsie, NY, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2026 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Janet was born April 7, 1941 in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Janet was the daughter of the late Leif and Kathleen Larsen, grew up in Brooklyn, NY where her family were avid Brooklyn Dodger Fans.

Janet attended Fort Hamilton High School where she played the violin in the orchestra. Janet inherited the love for music from her father who was an amazing pianist and violinist. She often enjoyed playing the violin and piano with her father Leif and brother Lloyd. The three of them were very talented with both instruments and entertained company and family with music from time to time.

Janet attended the State University of New York at New Paltz where she joined the PHI Kappa PI Sorority. While attending the State University of New York at New Paltz she met her loving husband Ronald who she married in August of 1963.

Janet began her teaching career at Yorktown Central School district, later left to raise her family and then returned to teach at Sheafe Road Elementary in the Wappingers Falls School District until she retired in 2000. Janet had a huge passion and love for teaching and was extremely devoted to all the children who attended her class.

Janet was a member of the United Methodist Church in Poughkeepsie and part of the Women's Circle. She was very involved in many activities of the Church and was especially fond of the Annual Harvest Bazaar where she created the Basket Room which was a big success and one that many looked forward to each year when looking for creative and affordable gifts for their friends and family. Janet was also talented in crocheting and knitting. Her family and friends were very special to her. Every year after New Years she would open the house to all their many friends, family and neighbors to come over for lots of food and social time. Janet and Ron were avid card players belonging to bridge clubs, cribbage clubs and many gatherings of Hand and Foot. She and Ron were part of a dinner club where several couples would take turns to find a new restaurant to try which wasn't difficult since they lived near the Culinary Institute. As a couple their hobbies also included camping at Wilcox Park and Camping at the Battenkill in Vermont. Once Janet retired she and Ron traveled extensively enjoying National Park Tour, Scandinavian Tour, Hungry, Alaskan Cruise, visits to see friends in Florida, Arizona, Virginia, North Carolina, California and many more fulfilling their traveling bucket list wishes.

Janet is survived by her husband, Ronald Cole of Honesdale, PA, two daughters, Linda White and husband Paul of Honesdale, PA, Sandra Cole of Wappingers Falls, NY, two granddaughters, Courtney Fitz and husband Mathew of South Abington Township, PA, Anna Ingulli and husband Christopher of Honesdale, PA and four great grandchildren, Patrick, Aubrey, Nora Kay and Owen, sister in-law Kerstin Larsen, Elk Grove, CA and sister in-law, Marilyn Stephens of Fulton, NY and many special nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.

The family would like to give a special thank you to all their friends, caregivers and medical staff for all the loving care and support they each provided to Janet and their family over the years.

Funeral services are private, and cremation is entrusted to the Hessling Murray Funeral Home, 428 Main Street, Honesdale, PA

The family wishes memorial contributions be made to DCARC (Dutchess County Association for Retarded Citizens) or the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation.