Janet Yvonne Zetlin

Janet Yvonne Zetlin
November 12, 1942 – July 21, 2025
Janet Yvonne Zetlin, a devoted mother, gifted artist, and cherished member of her community, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 21, 2025, at the Mira Vie nursing facility in Warren, New Jersey. She was 82 years old and was surrounded by her loving family in her final moments.
Janet was born on November 12, 1942, in Farmville, North Carolina, to the late Robert and Ava Mae Moore. At the age of five, following a devastating house fire, she and her family relocated to Newport News, Virginia. Despite this early hardship, Janet held on dearly to her roots in Farmville, where she returned every summer to work alongside her grandfather on his tobacco farm-experiences she treasured for the rest of her life.
Janet went on to earn her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland at College Park and began her professional life in Washington, D.C., working as a paralegal. It was during her time in D.C. that she met her first husband, Henry John Hokenson, an attorney visiting the city on business. Their connection blossomed into a long-distance romance, and eventually she moved to Brooklyn to begin their life together.
While living in Brooklyn, Janet worked as a nurse at Long Island College Hospital. After the birth of her son, she chose to retire from nursing to focus on raising her family-a role she embraced with great love and energy.
Janet and Henry later settled in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, where she resided for over 40 years. Mountain Lakes became more than just a home-it was a community she cherished and to which she gave generously. Janet founded the Children's Theatre Group, inspiring young performers and fostering creativity, and played a vital role in starting the Mountain Lakes Historical Society. Her dedication to preserving local heritage even made headlines as she fought to have historic homes in the area officially recognized and protected.
Following Henry's passing in 2006, Janet found love again and married Edward Zetlin in 2010. In 2022, the couple moved to Watchung, New Jersey.
Though she had retired from professional work, Janet was anything but idle. She remained deeply active in her faith and was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, regularly attending services at the Morristown ward. There, she formed many lasting friendships rooted in kindness, shared values, and community service.
Janet was a woman of many talents. She possessed a natural artistic gift-able to paint with stunning beauty and expression despite never receiving formal training-and she could sit down at the piano and play effortlessly, never having taken a single lesson. Her creativity extended into the kitchen, where she became known as the world's greatest cook by her family. Her southern specialties, especially her unforgettable fried chicken, were highlights of family gatherings. She also hosted annual Low Country Boil dinners, often with more than 50 guests filling her home with laughter, warmth, and delicious food.
Janet was predeceased by her first husband, Henry John Hokenson, in 2006; her beloved daughter, Kim Renea Amendt in 2024; and her brother, Gerald Moore, in 1985.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Edward Zetlin; her son, John Hokenson, and his wife Katherine; her daughter, Kristen Hokenson; her grandchildren, Mark Amendt, Brittany Wix (Dylan), Hailey Puente (Erick) and Scarlett Hokenson; two great-grandchildren, Kai and Lucas; and her sister, Judy Carol Bean.
A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ. A memorial service will begin at 6:00 PM at the funeral home.
Janet's legacy lives on through the love she gave, the beauty she created, and the lives she touched.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Huntington's Disease Society of America at www.HDSA.org would be greatly appreciated.