Janet Lynne Fellingham (nee Howell) died at home on October 10, 2025 surrounded by love and light, after a full life lived despite ulcerative colitis, cancer and kidney disease.

She was born  in Manhattan on October 18, 1948 to Harry and Bell (Schusler) Howell, the third of five children and the first daughter. The family moved to Floral Park, NY when Janet was 3 years old. She attended St. Hedwig’s School and Floral Park Memorial. After graduating high school Janet entered the workforce as an administrative assistant, for fashion buyers and steamship companies. She ended her career in the early 2000s after decades of working in the Adapted Driver’s Education Department at The Viscardi Center in Albertson.

Janet married Andy on August 1, 1970 and thus began a true and beautiful lifelong love story. They lived first in Queens, moving to New Hyde Park, settling in Garden City, and spent many glorious summers with family and friends in Hampton Bays. 

Janet’s true joy was being with her family and friends. She raised her children with a playfulness that was unmatched. The house was always filled with laughter, people, animals, and tea. She continued that legacy with her many granddogs, and later, her grandchildren. Whatever her grandchildren did, and wherever they were, she tried her best to be there, embracing her role as “Mimi” with gusto.

Janet was one of the rare people who made and kept friendships wherever she went—from her elementary and high school friends, to work friends, Welcome Wagon in NHP and GC, St. Anne’s Pre-Cana co-leaders, vacations, and hospital roommates. Once you were her friend, you were her friend forever.

Janet volunteered throughout her adulthood as a class parent, Girl Scout Leader, Welcome Wagon President, secretary for the Ostomy Support Group, and at St. Anne’s, first with Andy as a Pre-Cana leader couple, then as a Eucharistic minister, at the Cancer Support Group, and on the Social Ministries board.

Janet is survived by the love of her life, Andy, with whom she shared 55 years of marriage after they started dating at her Sweet 16. To see them together was to see love in action. They never stopped holding hands and traveled until the final year of Janet’s life. She is also survived by her son Andrew C., daughter-in-law Cristin (Callaghan), and grandson Bobby of Manhattan, NY; and her daughter Kimberly, son-in-law Matthew (Mohan), and grandchildren Evie and Henry of Garden City. As well as three grand dogs, Frankie, Lando, and Elthree, who always made her laugh. Janet leaves behind her siblings Jim (Sue), Jack (Pat), and Dawn (Pat), as well as in-laws Sharon, Joe (Millie), Steve (Susan), and Pat (Peter), her many nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was predeceased by her parents Harry and Bell, and brother Tom. They are surely drinking tea and rejoicing in heaven.

Janet’s family wishes to thank her many gifted doctors, surgeons, nurses, aides, OTs, PTs, and hospital and medical staff who helped her over the years. They particularly thank Fr. John Gilmartin, who was a spiritual guide from the first week of her cancer diagnosis; Linda Leone; the Nurse Ministry; Share-a-Meal; and the prayer list at St. Anne’s Church, and the incredible clergy at the Cathedral of the Incarnation for their many visits to hospital and home. Her wonderful home health aides, Lucia, Mary Jane, and Violet, as well as Brookside Homecare and Calvary Hospice. We also thank our extended family and many friends for loving and supporting us through all these years. We were all blessed to have had Janet in our lives for so long. To honor Janet, we ask that you wear green, drink a cup of tea, visit the library, and laugh with a loved one.