Janet Lucille (Duquette) Janosko

Janet Lucille (Duquette) Janosko, 84, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, who treasured the gift of spending her final hours by her side.

Janet was born on October 9, 1941, in Champlain, New York, to Emile Duquette and Amy St. John. She grew up in the small town near the Canadian border as the oldest child, alongside her brother and two sisters. From humble beginnings, Janet learned early the importance of hard work, resilience, and caring for family—values she carried throughout her life and passed on to the generations who followed.

She later moved to Remsen, New York, with her former husband, Richard Yakey, where they raised four daughters and operated a horseback riding stable for several years. Janet became a mother at a young age and raised her daughters to be strong, capable, and devoted to one another. She never believed in self-pity; instead, she taught her family to work hard, look after each other, and believe that it is never too late to begin again.

On Valentine’s Day in 1981, Janet married Joseph Janosko. Joe became the love of her life, and together they built a life filled with partnership, travel, and devotion. As Joe’s career as an HVAC engineer on hospital projects took them to different places, Janet and Joe enjoyed living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Chillicothe, Ohio; Clinton, New York; Charlottesville, Virginia; and eventually Union Springs, New York, where they settled into a home on the shores of Cayuga Lake. They lived there happily until Joe’s passing in November 2012.

Janet was proud of the life she created for herself. At age 42, she returned to school and became a histologist, a reflection of her determination, intelligence, and courage to start over. She was known by her family as strong, fearless, quick-witted, and wonderfully direct. She had thick skin, a sharp tongue, a ready laugh, and often a joke, song title, or a saying tucked away for just the right moment. Janet was the center of the room by design, full of knowledge, stories, and opinions, and she offered guidance freely to those who paused long enough to listen.

After retiring from the University of Virginia Medical Center where she managed the pathology lab as a histologist, she enjoyed volunteering for the Hospice gift shop in Auburn, New York. She had a gift for making a house feel like home—clean, warm, welcoming, comfortable, and beautiful. Janet was an excellent cook, remembered especially for family recipes that became traditions, including her gingerbread men, potato salad, and baked beans. She was also a talented seamstress who encouraged her daughters to learn the craft. Among her most cherished creations was a flower girl dress made for her first great-granddaughter.

In recent years, Janet sold her home on Cayuga Lake and moved closer to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the Syracuse, New York area, settling in Brewerton. As her health declined and she required additional care, she moved to Greenpoint Assisted Living Facility in Liverpool, New York, where she lived for the remainder of her life.

To her family, Janet was Mammay and a beloved matriarch. She was a grandmother, great-grandmother, mother figure, role model, guide, and North Star. Her grandchildren remember calling her with every milestone, knowing how proud she was of her family and how deeply loved she made them feel. She shaped those around her with strength, humor, honesty, and unwavering love.

Janet will be remembered for her resilience, her wit, her fierce love for family, and her belief that women should know their own strength. She created the life she wanted and inspired those who loved her to do the same.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph Janosko. Her family takes comfort in imagining her reunited with Joe. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Emile Duquette and Amy (St. John) Breda; brother, Leon Duquette; sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Klemish; and grandson, Evan Yakey-Fiedler.

She is survived by her four daughters: Louise Yakey (partner Knut Riis) of Santa Fe, NM; Cheryl Yakey (Michael Henscey) of San Francisco, CA; Linda Yakey of Port St. Lucie, FL; and Sheila Fonner (John Fonner) of Whitesboro, NY, as well as her sister, Carol (Allen) North of The Villages, FL. She is also survived by her thirteen grandchildren: Cayla (Zachary) Clark; Stephen (Desiree Halbert) Yakey-Wiley; Graham (Jessica) Fogle; Alex Yakey (Andrea Borowski); Lauren (James) Chehovich; Eric (Nova Annastazia) Yakey-Wiley; Amalia Traino; Jessica Yakey-Fogle; Kendra (Zachary Firestone) Yakey-Wiley; Howard (Jamie) Shanley; Ryan Fiedler; Emma Jo Fonner; and Matthew Fonner. And her ten great-grandchildren: Stephen Yakey-Wiley; Aoife, Benjamin, Roisin, and Zachary Fogle; Violet and Harrison Clark; Madeline Shank and Penelope Chehovich; and William Firestone.

Janet will be deeply missed by her daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, dear friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing and loving her. Rest peacefully, Mammay. Thank you for loving, guiding, and shaping your family. Your strength, humor, and love will continue to live on in all of us.

The family wishes to express its deepest gratitude to the physicians and nurses on Unit 6-K at Upstate Medical Center for the loving care and kindness they provided to our mom and Mammay and her family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital - online at: upstatefoundation.org or by mail to Upstate Foundation, 750 E. Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210 (make checks payable to: Upstate Foundation).

Janet will be laid to rest in St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Saturday, July 25, 2026, following a 10 a.m. mass at Sacred Heart Church, both located in Auburn, NY.

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