Janet Eleanor Everts Benoit

HUDSON FALLS – On November 4th, Janet Eleanor Everts Benoit, 84, of Harrison Avenue of Hudson Falls, passed away from breast cancer at the Glens Falls Hospital following a short and brave battle. She was born February 1st, 1939, in Seattle, Washington, to the former Eva Johnson and Robert Everts, originally from Bismarck, North Dakota. Bob was Bismarck’s rich kid who married the prettiest girl in town, Eva, and took her West, where Janet and her brother Jim were born. After Robert proved to be a real cad and bad at high-stakes cards, Eva divorced him. Pearl Harbor survivor Leo Weston married Eva and was father to Janet, her brother Jim, and later her little brother Jack, and baby sister Carrie Jean. 

Janet graduated from Watertown High, Class of 1957. She attended nursing school, which commenced a lifelong interest and career in nursing and adult care.

Janet met Joseph Benoit during his service in the US Army at Fort Drum, and on April 1st, 1967, April Fools Day, they married in Hudson Falls at the former St. Paul’s Church, also known as “The French Church.” They were married for almost fifty years before Joe passed away in 2014.

At various points in her career, Janet worked as an airline stewardess, waitress, assistant to her paperboy kids, homemaker, caregiver, and the owner of Benoit Adult Home. 

There are so many words we could use to describe Janet Everts Benoit. During her career and life, the haters and believers called her sassy, bossy, crazy, or worse. In today’s culture, someone may instead call her assertive, free-spirited, engaged, and passionate. She was undoubtedly eccentric, loud, indomitable, funny, and if irritated, you would get an earful. Jan was also loving, giving, and a successful woman business owner in an era when that was an exception. She was to us a sister, mom, aunt, friend, provider, leader, and Gramma. She was undoubtedly one of her kind; many of these traits survive in her family and descendants.

Janet was raised in a proud military family and married into another. She spent time in Seattle during the Second World War, at the time a critical military base in the Battle for the Pacific. Janet visited California three times, once driving cross-country from Los Angeles to NY in a LaSalle automobile. Later, she and the family took two train rides from Chicago to LA on the El Capitan. With her husband Joseph, Janet visited Paris, France, Munich, Germany, Salzburg, Austria, and the Caribbean. She loved traveling to Florida to see her son, Stephen. To her, New York City was her happy place and a world our Mother spoke glowingly and fondly about. She visited the city throughout her life. Her tales of adventure with Mary McGinnis in New York City are remarkable and legendary. She booked many family vacations to Maine, enjoying the surf, sand, and food in places like Wells Beach, York, and the Maine family favorite, Old Orchard Beach.

At Benoit Adult Home and throughout her life, Janet was there for seniors and their families. Through reputation, health care referrals, and word of mouth, Janet became a key pillar for many in her community, and she provided valuable services and compassionate care when families needed help. For the twilight years of many in the area, the Benoit Adult Home served, with Janet at the helm, treating each client and their families as if they were her own, from the down and out to revered local elders and respected leaders in the community. Regardless of color, creed, or social standing, Jan took immense pride in helping people when they could no longer live alone. At Benoit Adult Home, they became part of her extended family, and they spent their days and nights surrounded by Janet, her family and staff, a piano, music, and too many cats! 

Jan enjoyed cooking, Cadillacs, eating seafood, shopping, baking, bingo, holidays, traveling, pig Latin, gossiping, and promoting and protecting the rights of animals. She lived for Scrabble at a competitive level, Pinochle, cards, classical music, and feeding strays. She loved Patsy Cline songs, Mikhail Baryshnikov’s The Nutcracker, Casablanca, Gene Hackman, old Hollywood movies, the National Enquirer, dogs, and piano playing. Janet was a leader in family games and a go-to for support and help to her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. 

Janet was predeceased in death by her husband, Joseph Benoit. Mother, Eva Johnson Weston, brother James Everts, father Leo Weston, niece Terra Lynn McCarthy, and her forever best friend, Mary McGuiness. Survivors include her brother Jack Weston (Mary) of Chaumont, sister Carrie Weston McCarthy (Manuel) of Peru, brother Thomas Everts (Karli) of Mercer Island, Washington, and sister Patricia Everts Hodder (Rick) of Centreville, VA, her children, Mark Schneider (Evelyn Sheerer) of Queensbury, Steve White (Mark Knight) of St. Petersburg, FL, Susan Benoit Bellinger (Barney) of Mayfield, Jim Wells of Binghamton, Joel Benoit of Hudson Falls, and Jesse Benoit (Ashley) of Cary, NC. Jan left behind her adored grandchildren, whom she spoiled with love, money, clothes, and wit: Heidi Schneider (Terry Davidson), Holly Schneider Hughes (Brian), Erin Bellinger, Kristina Wells, James Wells, Carter Benoit, and Hunter Benoit, and her great-grandchildren Claire Rose, Eleanor J. (Ellie), Madeline, Kenna, and Kieran. She had wonderful friends and family, many of whom we know we will miss during this fog of events, but we will try to highlight some we won’t forget. A special callout would include Karen and Tom LaBarge; brother-in-laws Laurent Benway, Butch Barlow, and Hod Ovitt; and her sister-in-laws Kathy Benway Barlow and Rosemary Ovitt. She cherished her dear friends and family, including her card-playing partners Paula Bush, Janice Anderson, Sandy Brouillette, and Helga Stutz, also dear friend of over twenty years, Virginia Carluccio. Her crazy Aunt Janet’s commentary and jokes enthralled her adoring nieces. Especially Lorrie Benoit Smith, Angel Benway Tucker, Maria Benway Dawkins, Rebecca Benway Matte, Heather Benway, Terra McCarthy, Laurie Everts Ruston, Judy Everts, Stacey Weston Linkroum, Ashley Draper, and Jacqueline Weston Stein. She loved her nephews, whom Aunt Janet was a treat to, including Leo McCarthy, Matt McCarthy, Jim Everts, Bill Weston, Pat Stein, Cliff Hewlett, Laurent Benway, Randy Smith, Tracy Benoit, Adam Linkroum, and Tom Ruston; also her niece, Tressa Everts Overfield. Janet’s cat, Abner, survives her.

Friends may call from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2023^, at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls. The procession and funeral will immediately follow to the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road in Schuylerville, NY. She will take one final ride in a Cadillac.

Friends and family are all invited to celebrate Janet’s life on the same day following the burial, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with food and drink provided at the Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls, NY. 

Janet provided a caring home for many people at the end of their lives, and Karma was watching. At the end of her days, she received the same treatment she provided for so many. The family would like to thank Tricia Parrish from the Washington County Office of Aging, who was tremendous over the last several years. The family also wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Tower 2 Oncology and Dr. Tedesco, who provided unrivaled care for Janet and her family in the last week of her life.

Janet loved animals with all her heart. At one point, there were over twenty felines she adopted and took in. Please consider donating in her name to the SPCA of Upstate NY at http://www.spcauny.org. 

Rest in peace, Mom! Thank you for all you did for us. We will cherish your memory and love you forever.