Obituary: Janet Skirkanich Stupak, Age 56

Janet M. Skirkanich Stupak, age 56, of Fairfield, beloved wife of James J. Stupak, passed away on Saturday, December 22, 2012 in her home.

Janet, a graduate of Bunnell High School and The Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, was born in Bridgeport to Mary (Wojnagi) Skirkanich of Stratford, and the late Peter Skirkanich, and has been a lifelong area resident.

She was a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council at Smilow Cancer Hospital, the Recurrence Support Group for Ovarian Cancer Patients at Smilow Hospital, and was active in the Discovery to Cure Fundraising Campaign at Smilow Cancer Hospital. Janet was a former member of the Fairfield Jr. Women’s Club, St. Thomas Golf League, and was a former volunteer at St. Thomas School.

An avid cook, Janet had a flair for interior design, and took great pride in decorating her home. She will be remembered for her style and grace, as well as being a loyal friend, through thick and thin. With any task, she strove for quality and perfection, and achieved her goals, with humility and class. Her life was shaped by her strong faith and core values.

During the challenge of her illness, she showed great strength, courage and selflessness. Janet loved to travel, especially to Martha’s Vineyard, Bermuda, and Ogunquit, Maine, but her favorite destination was home. More than anything, she loved her family, and her greatest joy came as a “stay at home Mom” raising her beloved daughter. Janet’s family would like to thank Dr. Azodi, and his staff, as well as the staff of the Smilow Cancer Center at Yale NHH, and the Nurses at Connecticut Hospice, for their kind and loving care.

In addition to her beloved husband, and mother, survivors include her daughter Courtney Stupak, of Fairfield, sister Patricia LeBelle and her husband Gilman, and brother Ronald Skirkanich and his wife Nancy, all of Shelton, sister-in-law Janis Neri, of Southington, brothers-in-law John Stupak and his wife Sally of MA, and Thomas Stupak, of Terryville, niece Emily LeBelle, of Las Vegas, NV, and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A Requiem Funeral Service will be celebrated on Friday, Dec. 28, at 10 a.m. in the Carpatho Russian Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist, 364 Mill Hill Ave Bridgeport. Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Stratford.

Friends may call on Thursday, Dec. 27, from 3-6 p.m. in the Adzima Funeral Home 50 Paradise Green Place Stratford. Panachida will be at 4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make donations in Janet’s memory to the “Discovery to Cure” c/o Yale GYN Ovarian Oncology Dept. P.O. Box 208063 New Haven, CT. 06520.

This obituary was courtesy of the Adzima Funeral Home.