Obituary of Janet F Wenzel

Janet Wenzel passed away peacefully on September 18, 2024, in Mendham, NJ. She was 82 years old.

Born in Passaic, NJ, on August 22, 1942, to parents Charles and Ann (Pietropaolo) McMaster, Janet grew up in Cranford, NJ, before attending and graduating from Rider College, where she met her husband, the late Rudolph Wenzel. After college, they married in 1962 and moved to the US Marine Base in Camp Lejeune, NC where he was stationed.  Upon leaving the military, they moved to Cranford, NJ and then to the Township of Washington in Bergen County, NJ, where they lived for 38 years.  Her husband served as Mayor there for many years before they retired to Long Beach Island, NJ, in 2008. In later years, they also enjoyed winters together in Cape Coral, Florida.

Janet was a realtor for many years and she also received her CFP license. But her life’s greatest work was raising her family and being a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Once her grandchildren arrived, she spent many years visiting them across the country. Additionally, she spent many years caring for her mother, aunt and uncle as they needed help in their later years.

She loved spending time with family and friends, reading, going through family photos, boating in Long Beach Island and the time they had in Cape Coral, Fl.  In later years her many ailments limited her ability for outside activities.  She kept pushing through each set-back in recent years and came back stronger. She will be missed dearly by all.

Janet is predeceased by her beloved husband, the late Rudolph Wenzel. She is survived by her two daughters Donna Thornes of Seattle, WA and Cindy (Bob) Janacek of Mendham, NJ; and sister Carol Torgesen of Cranford, NJ. She is also survived by her grandchildren Emily, Max, and Henry Thornes, and Jennifer and Brian Janacek as well as her nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 29, from 1-5 PM at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham NJ. A Funeral Liturgy will be held on Monday, September 30, at 1 PM at St. Joseph Church, W. Main Street, Mendham. Interment will take place on Tuesday, October 1, at 11 AM at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, PA. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet’s memory may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, t2t.org; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org; or your own favorite charity.