Janet Louise Nowinski

Janet Louise (Barger) Nowinski, 82, passed away peacefully at home on the lake surrounded by loved ones on September 1, 2025 after a long illness. Jan/Mom/Gramma/Great-Gramma was born on September 10, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan the daughter of John and Margot Barger. Jan grew up in Oak Park, Michigan and graduated from Ferndale High School in 1960. She studied dental hygiene at the University of Detroit, and also took lessons to be a bank bookkeeper. It was during this time that she met Larry Nowinski, Dad/Grampa/Great-Grampa, and they were married in June 1963. In 2025 they had been married 62 years. It was also during this time when mom met Fr. Joseph Lectenberg, SJ who helped her become a Catholic and who later performed the marriage ceremony for Larry and Jan at a church in Chicago. Her trust in God and deep Catholic faith blossomed and continued to grow throughout her lifetime. Jan was no stranger to difficult times. She endured the death of her father at age 16 and another loss of a dear friend at age 18. In 1971 she experienced the heartbreaking loss of a newborn baby, whom she never got to meet. She mothered children who had life-threatening conditions or birth defects. Jan and Larry lived in several places around the country and raised 7 children. Jan's strength, courage, and strong faith were mainstays to her amazing character. Jan's deep faith called her to fellowship in the Catholic community. She was a lector, CCD/confirmation teacher, parish council member and active member of the Opus Dei community for many years. Her volunteer service also included being a founder and lead bookkeeper for the Summer Winds camp, where girls and young women had religious instruction alongside a beautiful Maine summer camp experience. She also led a girls' service club for many years called the Red Robins where religious instruction was followed by singing to residents of a nursing home. Jan's volunteer involvement was at its pinnacle with her participation in the Gray Community Food Pantry. She, together with a small group of highly dedicated volunteers, moved the Pantry from the Gray Town Hall to the parish house of the Congregational Church of Gray. With Jan as Financial Secretary, checking in those who came to the Food Pantry, the organization has helped hundreds and hundreds of families with food, personal care items, and household needs. The organization's demonstration of service and stewardship to fellow human beings is a beautiful illustration of what God put Jan here on earth to do. Jan loved God, loved her family, enjoyed animals, and adored babies. She lived many years on her beloved lake and enjoyed boat rides, watching the wildlife, and watching several generations grow up. Our hearts are beyond heavy with her passing. Jan is predeceased by her mother Margot, her father John, her stepdad Arthur, her sister Marilyn, her son Baby Sean, and her grandson Nicholas. She is survived by her husband Lawrence of 62 years, her brother Roland and his wife Barb and family, stepbrother Michael: and her children and their families: John and his wife Kim, Larry and his wife Suzanne, Chris and his wife Jamie, Laura and her husband Neal, Charlotte and her husband Andrew, Michelle and her husband Steve, and Shawna, grandchildren Austin, Jake and his wife Brittni, Henry and his partner Makenna, Kyle and his wife Amanda, Alex, Kadie, Blake, Sarah, David and his wife Cholage, Angela, Ryan and Amelia, and great grandchildren Margot, Finnegan, Juno, Levi, Sullivan, Wyatt, Bailey and Jonah. Visiting hours will be held at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Ave Portland on Monday September 8th from 3-5pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 Am Tuesday September 9th at Holy Martyrs Catholic Church, 266 Foreside Road in Falmouth. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Stevens Avenue Portland. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Gray Community Food Pantry, c/o Alice McGrath PO Box 1012 Gray, ME 04039.