In Our Care
Janice May McGurl
November 13, 1925 - July 21, 2016
McGurl, Janice May (Stallard) passed away Thursday, July 21, 2016 at the age of 90, surrounded by her loving children and their spouses. Janice, who was born in Portland, Maine, spent 80 years in Arlington; first in Arlington Heights with her parents Minnie and Bill, and sisters Doris and Phyllis, and then on Grove Street Place raising nine children, who survive and adore her: Thomas and his wife Linda of Putnam, CT; Maureen Dawkins of Temple, GA; Donna Dickinson of Chelmsford; Karen Sears of McMinnville, OR; Joan and husband David O’Brien of Chelmsford; Corrine and husband Paul Medolo of North Andover; Stephen and husband David Davidson of Medford; Terri McAdams of Arlington, and Paula and husband Mark Wasson of Billerica. Janice also leaves behind 18 beloved grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, many loving nieces and nephews, and her dear companion of many years, Richard Wall.
A devoted mother and home-maker, Janice loved her children and her grandchildren more than anything else. She was renowned for her laundry skills and impressed the neighbors with endless loads of impeccably clean laundry hung neatly by hand on multiple clotheslines, winter or summer—there was no clothes dryer in the house until most of the kids were grown. We still can’t figure out how she managed to do it all.
Janice loved black coffee, plain donuts, pancakes, vanilla ice cream, green pepper pizza and coffee brandy sombreros. As a young woman, she played the drums and the piano and always loved music of all kinds. Her children recall her often turning up the kitchen radio and dancing to Rod Stewart or Led Zeppelin, saying “oh, I love this song.” With her ceaseless energy, she always encouraged her kids to walk wherever they were going, and always set a good pace to follow. If the Fitbit existed in her day, she would have burned them out regularly with the number of steps she took each day.
Janice loved the beach and swimming and spent many summer days at Revere or Nahant beach with as many of her children that the car would hold. Upon arrival at the beach she always dove right into the water, bathing cap always in place, no toe-test of the temperature, and the water was never too cold for her! Maybe the Maine and Canadian heritage kept her warm.
In addition to raising a large loving family, Janice retired from New England Telephone with 10 years combined service. She was a valued member of the residential community at Bridges in Westford, MA for the last two years.
We all miss you so much and always will!
Relatives and friends are invited to visit in the DeVito Funeral Home, 1145 Mass. Ave., ARLINGTON Monday, July 25th from 4-7 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 7 p.m. Private burial will take place Tuesday in Portland, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations in Janice’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472, would be most appreciated. For directions or to send an online condolence visit, devitofuneralhomes.com.
A devoted mother and home-maker, Janice loved her children and her grandchildren more than anything else. She was renowned for her laundry skills and impressed the neighbors with endless loads of impeccably clean laundry hung neatly by hand on multiple clotheslines, winter or summer—there was no clothes dryer in the house until most of the kids were grown. We still can’t figure out how she managed to do it all.
Janice loved black coffee, plain donuts, pancakes, vanilla ice cream, green pepper pizza and coffee brandy sombreros. As a young woman, she played the drums and the piano and always loved music of all kinds. Her children recall her often turning up the kitchen radio and dancing to Rod Stewart or Led Zeppelin, saying “oh, I love this song.” With her ceaseless energy, she always encouraged her kids to walk wherever they were going, and always set a good pace to follow. If the Fitbit existed in her day, she would have burned them out regularly with the number of steps she took each day.
Janice loved the beach and swimming and spent many summer days at Revere or Nahant beach with as many of her children that the car would hold. Upon arrival at the beach she always dove right into the water, bathing cap always in place, no toe-test of the temperature, and the water was never too cold for her! Maybe the Maine and Canadian heritage kept her warm.
In addition to raising a large loving family, Janice retired from New England Telephone with 10 years combined service. She was a valued member of the residential community at Bridges in Westford, MA for the last two years.
We all miss you so much and always will!
Relatives and friends are invited to visit in the DeVito Funeral Home, 1145 Mass. Ave., ARLINGTON Monday, July 25th from 4-7 p.m. with a memorial service to follow at 7 p.m. Private burial will take place Tuesday in Portland, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations in Janice’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472, would be most appreciated. For directions or to send an online condolence visit, devitofuneralhomes.com.