Obituaries

Janet Jones

Just  five  days  before  what  would  have  been  her  100th  birthday,  Janet  Margaret  Hofmann  Jones,  affectionately  known  as  “Gram”  to  her  grandchildren  and  great grandchildren, completed a life defined by love, curiosity, kindness, and an enduring  appreciation for people and their stories.

 

Born in Elkridge, Maryland,  to Howard Elwood Hofmann and Nellie Catherine Gill,  Janet had a lifelong passion for family history. Long before genealogy became popular,  she carefully preserved photographs, documents, and memories. She once wrote that  she had spent so much time recording the lives of others that she had forgotten to tell  her own story—a reflection of her generous spirit. 

Growing up during the Great Depression and coming of age during World War II, Janet  witnessed  nearly  a  century  of  extraordinary  change.  Through  it  all,  her  curiosity  never faded.

In 1944 she married John Paul Jones Jr. (“Jonesie”), a World War II veteran. Together  they built a life centered on  family, the outdoors, and adventures across Maryland,  Pennsylvania, and later Lakeland, Florida.

 

Janet loved books and reading, handwritten letters, music, family history, and lifelong  learning. She faithfully celebrated birthdays, treasured the accomplishments of those  she loved, enjoyed poker, bingo, trivia, singing, and later became an avid tennis fan. 

She  also  found  joy  in  Florida  sunshine,  meaningful  conversations,  Snoopy  and  Woodstock,  raspberry-filled  donuts,  and  time  with  family  and  friends. Janet made  people  feel  seen,  valued,  and  encouraged always  listening  with  genuine  interest,  remembering the little things, and celebrating the successes of others as though they  were her own.

 

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Paul Jones Jr.; her sons, John  Paul Jones III and Richard Wayne Jones. She is survived by her daughter, Teri Cash;  six grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; and many extended family members  and dear friends.

 

Her greatest legacy is not simply that she lived nearly a century, but that she  filled  those years with kindness, deep curiosity, generosity, and love. 

Forever Loved