Janet M. Salmonson

Janet M. Salmonson, 86, of Westborough, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, December 25, 2025, surrounded by the love and comfort of her devoted family. She was the beloved wife and high school sweetheart of Roger S. Salmonson, with whom she shared a lifetime of love, partnership, and unwavering commitment to family.

Born in Worcester, Janet was the daughter of the late Walter and Ellen (Hildreth) Sullivan. She was raised and educated in Worcester and was a graduate of South High School, later earning her nursing degree from the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.

Janet dedicated her professional life to caring for others, serving as Director of Nursing at the Glavin Center for 38 years. Earlier in her career, she worked at Memorial Hospital and Westborough State Hospital, always bringing compassion, skill, humor, and quiet strength to her work.

Faith and music were important parts of Janet’s life. She was a longtime communicant of St. Luke the Evangelist Church, where she sang in the choir. She was also a former member of the Westborough Community Chorus and the Westborough Players Club.

Above all else, Janet’s greatest joy was her family. In addition to her husband, Roger, she is survived by her loving children: Jamie Cage and her husband, Daniel, of Atlanta, Georgia; Wendy Starkel and her husband, Murray, of Dallas, Texas; and Todd Salmonson and his wife, Patricia, of Westford. She was a cherished sister to Ronald Sullivan of Whitinsville, Terrance Sullivan of Fort Pierce, Florida, and Walter Sullivan of Worcester, and a devoted grandmother to six grandchildren: Alexandra Cormier, Nicholas Starkel, Jack Salmonson, Jordan Salmonson, Cameron Paine, and Miles Cage, each of whom she adored. Janet’s love for her family was deep and constant, and that love was returned to her many times over.

Janet’s love of family was perfectly exemplified every Christmas Eve. Her home was opened to family and loved ones spanning generations for a night of potluck, visits from Santa, Christmas carols sung into the evening, and attempts at the latest dance routines. The laughter of those nights will be heard in our hearts eternally, and her passing will forever make this a bittersweet time of year for all who share memories of breaking bread together on Christmas Eve.

Please remember Janet when you float on an ocean wave, enjoy a vanilla ice cream cone, admire an expansive garden, take a bite of Blink’s fried dough, or hug a child. Julie Andrews said it best: “These are a few of my favorite things.”

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, January 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main Street, Westborough.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 12, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main Street, Westborough.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://events.alz.org