SOUTH NEW BERLIN – Janet A. Leech, 62, of South New Berlin, passed away late Thursday night, June 4, 2009, at her home following a long illness.
The daughter of Herbert and Cora Donnelly Stevens, Janet was born in Norwich in October of 1946 and attended school in both Norwich and Guilford. On Dec. 21, 1963, in Norwich, Janet married William Leech Sr. For close to 20 years, they had lived on the river road in South New Berlin, with Janet working for 21 years as a machinist for Mead Westvaco of Sidney. A very kind hearted and loving woman who always thought of others before herself, Janet could always find room at the dinner table for one more ... or ten more if necessary. She loved to find treasures at garage sales and auctions and cherished spending time with her family and friends, all the while spoiling her grandchildren.
Janet is survived by her husband, William Leech Sr.; by two daughters, Barbara Leech of South New Berlin and Tammy Leech of New York City; and one son, William Leech Jr. and wife Patti of South New Berlin; and by her sisters and their husbands: Catherine Come of Kershaw, S.C., Dorothy and Carl Marrone of Oxford, Doris and Les Parshall of Cooperstown, Retha and Moe Beckwith of Oxford, Rita and Ken Stevens of New Berlin, Leona and Paul Brown of South New Berlin, Caroline and Gary Dalton of Norwich, and Diana and Billy Bennett of Hampton, Va. Also surviving are Janet’s brothers: Harold Stevens of Binghamton, Herbert and Hubert Stevens, both of Oxford, Norman Stevens and wife Pat of New Berlin, and Leonard Stevens of Hampton, Va.; her sister-in-law, Beverly Stevens of Norwich; grandchildren Adam and Ashley Revette, Melinda, Jessica, Amanda, and Alan Leech; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Janet was predeceased by her parents, Herbert and Cora, and by her sisters and brother, Carrie Lincoln and Linda and Percy Stevens.
Funeral services for Janet will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Romeyn Kipp, pastor of the Holmesville Baptist Church, will officiate. Interment will be in the Copes Comers Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Janet’s family has requested that memorial contributions be sent to the Bob Simon Fund, c/o Bassett Cancer Institute, Bassett Health Care, 1 Atwell Rd., Cooperstown, NY 13326; or to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Dr., Oneonta, NY 13820.