Janet Turner Heller

Janet Turner Heller, 84, a longtime resident of the Moscow area, died Monday morning at the Jewish Home of Eastern Pa. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, James Prosser Heller, who died on Jan. 26, 2003.

Born in Cambridge, Mass., she was the youngest of three daughters born to the late Frank and Edith Small Turner. Janet was raised and educated in the suburbs of Boston, where her curiosity, keen intellect, nimble mind and a love of travel developed. She would head south, embarking on what can be aptly described as a journey of lifelong learning, matriculating at the New Jersey College for Women, a school that would later merge with Rutgers University. While studying courses in history, law and political science there, she met her inner liberalism, and she would remain so, fervent in the belief that people have rights, some inalienable. (Unabashed, Janet would stay the course, vote for McGovern and be damn proud of it.) She also met a frat boy/ROTC cadet there named Jim Heller, who also liked to travel. Together forever after college, a beautiful, half-century love affair would ensue, and Jim's military obligations would bring the couple to Charlotte, N.C., then Athens, Ga., and then Scranton, where family roots took hold, while eventually settling in Moscow.

Janet was the family caretaker, the listener, the glue that held them all together. She taught her kids by showing them what kindness, humility, compassion, engagement and forgiveness looked like in action. All friends and neighbors were most welcome in her home, and she made friends easily. She read constantly, non-fiction mostly, always learning something new. She enjoyed her life, and varied interests such as sewing, needlepoint, doll houses, teddy bears, cooking and photography kept her hands and mind busy when not reading. Music was magical and she loved all types, though folk music really spoke to her soul. And any particularly good day might be celebrated with some bubbly, be it a frothy Guinness, a glass of red, a nice malt scotch, maybe a nice bourbon, say Makers Mark. Fond memories everywhere - summers with the kids at Lake Hideaway, winters as grandparents in Spain, retirement together to Bradenton's Gulf Coast. Cheers to you, Janet!

Janet is survived by her three sons, Andy Heller, Scranton; Doug Heller, Scranton; and Chris Heller and wife, Katie, West Hartford, Conn.; and a daughter, Nancy Heller, Dunedin, Fla.; a sister, Priscilla Schneider, Washington state; four grandchildren, Jeffrey Heller and wife, Megan, Frederick, Md.; Maggie, Sam and Finn Heller, all of West Hartford, Conn.; and a great-grandaughter, Imogen Heller.

She was also preceded in death by a sister, Marcia Burgdorf.

A reception celebrating Janet's life will be held Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Frank M. Regan Funeral Home, 715 Linden St., Scranton.

At 6:30 p.m., family members will share words of remembrance of Janet, and those in attendance will be invited to offer their reflections as well.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association-Greater Pa. Chapter, 57 N. Franklin St., Wilkes Barre, PA 18701; or to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, 967 Griffin Pond Road, South Abington Twp., PA 18411.