Janet M. Desmarais

Janet March Desmarais 66, passed away on July 6, 2025 at University of Florida Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, following complications from surgery. She had been struggling with cardiac issues for a number of years.

Born and raised in Auburn, NH, Janet was the daughter of Walter and Gwendolyn (Gerrior) Desmarais and adored by her two sisters. She attended Auburn Village School and Manchester Central High School.

Janet married James Doherty in 1977 at St. Peter Church in Auburn, NH. Early in their lives they had their two sons James and Patrick. She would later marry Robert Bruce of Derry, NH. Robert took in her boys and loved them as if they were his own. Several years later in 1989 she married Todd Test on February 14th at sunset on the beach at the north point of Anna Maria Island, FLorida; this marriage only lasted a few years.

Janet moved with her two sons in 1985 to Anna Maria Island in Florida when her parents bought the Rod and Reel Motel. She managed the motel for 25 years. She was well loved by all of her hotel guests as well as the friends that she made on the island. She had the same clients that came back to the motel year after year mostly because they loved Janet and her wonderful personality. Several of her NH friends would make reservations to stay at the motel for a few weeks each year. She also played cards with her friends, guest and family. She often was seen fishing from the Rod and Reel Pier with her sons. She liked going out to the local hangouts like Pete Reynard's Yacht Club to meet up with her friends, listen to country music and dance.

In her office at the motel, she had two talking parrots in a large cage who would also greet guests when they checked.

She was heartbroken when her father Walter passed away in 2019. He had always looked out for her and her two boys.

Janet moved to North Carolina to be with her son James and his family in 2022 for a year. She loved and missed the warm weather and sunshine of Florida and moved to Bunnell, Florida in 2023.

She will be greatly missed by her mother, Gwendolyn of Bradenton, Fl; her two sons; James and his wife Cassie of Lenoir, NC and Patrick and his wife Nora of Brookline, NH; sisters, Katherine and her husband Peter of Loudon, NH and Susan and her husband Brian (Joe) of Auburn, NH; her 9 adoring grandchildren; Ava, Hannah, Ariana, James, Julie, Gunner, Landon, Cameron and Anakin as well as several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date where Janet's ashes will be spread by her two sons and family members in Tampa Bay in front of the Rod and Reel Motel where she loved to be as well as the Auburn Village Cemetery.