Janet B. Houde

Janet (Adams) Houde, of Somers, CT, passed away on Feb. 5, 2021 at home, surrounded by family. 
   Janet was born on Nov. 4, 1936 in Springfield, MA to John and Lucille (Gladdings) Adams. Janet grew up in Longmeadow, MA and attended Classical High School. As a young woman, she volunteered at Wesson Memorial on High Street in Springfield, MA and Wesson Women’s on Chestnut Street in Springfield, MA. 
   Janet met the love of her life, Richard Houde, at a young age while on a blind date set up by her close friend, Grace. The high-school sweethearts went on to get married on May 5, 1956. Together, Janet and Richard built a home in Enfield, CT, raising five children. 
   Janet volunteered for Saint Martha’s School and was a communicant for 36 years. She was also a Girl Scout leader, leading Troop 905 along with Dottie Gilmore, creating a highly active and sought-after troop. At age 44, Janet pursued an LPN degree at Hartford Hospital School of Nursing. Following, she worked as an LPN at Johnson Memorial Hospital for 15 years. 
   Upon retiring, Janet and Richard moved to their dream home on Woods Pond in Bridgton, ME. They lived there for 10 years, collecting fond memories with children and grandchildren over the years. Together, Janet and Richard volunteered with the American Red Cross disaster service. They took an ERV to New York immediately following the events of September 11, 2001, as well as many parts of the South over the years. 
   Janet and Richard loved to travel, the highlights of which included a vacation in Barnstable, MA every year while the children were young. They enjoyed 5 cruises, a cross-country road trip stopping in Florida, Texas, the Grand Canyon and Branson, MI.  More recently they enjoyed summers on Lake Champlain in Willsboro, NY with all the family.  Richard passed away in 2013 at the age of 76, after 56 years of marriage. 
They leave behind five children: Kathy Bothwell and husband, Peter; Andrea Luke and husband, David; Pamela McCann and husband, Robert; David and fiancée, Christine Bardo; Joseph and wife, Amy. Janet’s greatest joys were her 11 grandchildren; Jennifer (Bothwell) Williams, Laura (Bothwell) Martin, Gregory Bothwell, David Luke IV, Christopher Luke, Shannon McCann, Stacey McCann, Reanna (Houde) Venturini, David Houde, Jr., Cameron Houde, and Cassidy Houde; and 13 great grandchildren; Parker Williams, Charlotte Williams, Imogen Williams, Daniel Martin, Peter Martin, Anna Martin, Kayli Luke, Caitlin Luke, David Luke V, Conner Luke, Landen Luke, Jacob Houde, and Elizabeth Houde. She is also survived by sister, Jessie Giorgini, and brother, David Adams, and wife, Ellen. She is predeceased by brothers, John and James Adams.
Janet’s last wish was for everyone to “be kind to each other”. 
   A mass-only memorial service will be held at Saint John’s Evangelist Church in Agawam, MA, on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the USAF Sergeants Association or the Wounded Warrior Project.