Janet K. "Nana" (Phillips) Lory

Janet K. “Nana” (Phillips) Lory, age 83, of Ramsey, NJ, formerly of Syracuse, Rochester, and Suffern, NY passed peacefully on April 17, 2021. She was the devoted daughter of the late Robert and Sophie (Cherwick) Phillips, daughter-in-law to Lena (Reichel) & Lester Lory, niece to Ellie and the late Alexander “Sasha” Cherwick and the late Michael and Eva Cherwick. Loving & caring wife of what would have been 60 years (m. 8/12/1961) to Charles "Chuck" Lory. Dear “little mommy” to Linda Ann (Lory) Bardzell, Christopher “Chris” & Sue Lory. Loving sister “Toot” to David & Christine “Chris” (Malcolm) Phillips and the late Robert “Bob” Phillips, and sister-in-law to the late Robert Lory and Carol Ann (Lory) & Robert Coghill. Proud, loving & devoted Nana to grandchildren Arielle Lena Bardzell, Ashton Becker Bardzell, Ashley & Brett Porter, Sierra & Lee Darling, Ryan & Bonnie Haydon and great-grandchildren Hayden, Ford & Dakota Porter, Stella, Dallas, & new baby Toni Belle Darling. Adoring & loving Aunt to Scott & Kathy Coghill, Sara Phillips, Lisa (Phillips) & Tommy Rosen, Karin (Cherwick) and Mike Skala and Great Aunt to Scott Coghill Jr., new baby Jack Rosen, and Sophia & Thomas Skala. Kind, caring and giving cousin, friend and neighbor (she loved her Momar family) and to so many in her church (Cornerstone Christian Church) Seniors group and community. 

Jan was one of the most selfless, kind, thoughtful, patient, caring and giving people you will ever meet.  She loved her family, friends and neighbors and couldn’t wait to hear about what was going on in everyone’s life. She loved to just drop into one of her neighbors homes to see what was going on in their world and around town.  She showed her love by baking her famous apple pie (or sharing her recipe), chocolate chip cookies, or sharing her special Christmas & Easter bread with friends & family (even mailing a loaf every year to her brother & sister in law in Florida and son & daughter-in-law in CA). 

Jan received her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Syracuse University, and taught school in Syracuse, Rochester, and Suffern (Ramapo) Central School District (First Grade). She shared her love for teaching with not only her students, but also ran a play school (nursery school) in Warrensburg, NY and Snoopy’s play school in Suffern (Airmont), NY for many years, taught Sunday School at her church and did school work with her grandchildren Arielle and Ashton who lived with her during their school years (she even got herself a second set of textbooks). She loved baseball and her love for the Yankees (she was THE #1 Yankee fan and watched EVERY game) was only second to watching her favorite baseball player, grandson Ashton Bardzell play in high school for Ramsey High School, in Div. 1 for the University of Hartford, and the USPBL Indy pro teams.  Nana was also extremely proud of the academic and professional success of her granddaughter, London-based attorney and UCF & Georgetown Law graduate, Arielle “Sissy” Bardzell.  

Some of her favorite times were spent by the lake fishing either at the lakehouse on Lake Hopatcong, the NJ shore, Camp of the Woods (NY) and Salem Campground (GA) in the summers, or at “snow bird” home(s) over the years in FL (avoiding the gators). Jan’s favorite season was spring and she just loved daffodils, tulips, crocus, and her favorite (named by grandson Ashton when he was little) “For Sissy bushes” (aka Forsythia).  Jan was always so thoughtful and would always share her flowers & little special notes & gifts for every holiday, birthday and season with her family and friends.  Thinking of others always before herself, she was the glue that held her family together, she always would say “I am sorry” first and would do everything in her power to make everything okay.  If you were sad she would find a way to make you feel better.  She would send little inspirational texts daily to family and friends to keep everyone’s spirits up, especially when she knew someone was not feeling well or things were not going right for them.  Jan “Nana” would never say no to anyone, (especially her grandchildren) she was often seen “zooming” around town to the store to get a special food/treat or dropping someone off at school (and running back 10 min later with a forgotten homework assignment or lunch).  Nana would always remember your favorite meal and have it ready and waiting if you had been away.  It will never be the same in her multi-generational home, but her family will treasure her memory and legacy of selfless love, giving, and caring of others before herself in their hearts.

Jan was one of the most selfless, kind, thoughtful, patient, caring and giving people you will ever meet.  She loved her family, friends and neighbors and couldn’t wait to hear about what was going on in everyone’s life. She loved to just drop into one of her neighbors homes to see what was going on in their world and around town.  She showed her love by baking her famous apple pie (or sharing her recipe), chocolate chip cookies, or sharing her special Christmas & Easter bread with friends & family (even mailing a loaf every year to her brother & sister in law in Florida and son & daughter-in-law in CA). 

Jan received her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Syracuse University, and taught school in Syracuse, Rochester, and Suffern (Ramapo) Central School District (First Grade). She shared her love for teaching with not only her students, but also ran a play school (nursery school) in Warrensburg, NY and Snoopy’s play school in Suffern (Airmont), NY for many years, taught Sunday School at her church and did school work with her grandchildren Arielle and Ashton who lived with her during their school years (she even got herself a second set of textbooks). She loved baseball and her love for the Yankees (she was THE #1 Yankee fan and watched EVERY game) was only second to watching her favorite baseball player, grandson Ashton Bardzell play in high school for Ramsey High School, in Div. 1 for the University of Hartford, and the USPBL Indy pro teams.  Nana was also extremely proud of the academic and professional success of her granddaughter, London-based attorney and UCF & Georgetown Law graduate, Arielle “Sissy” Bardzell.  

Some of her favorite times were spent by the lake fishing either at the lakehouse on Lake Hopatcong, the NJ shore, Camp of the Woods (NY) and Salem Campground (GA) in the summers, or at “snow bird” home(s) over the years in FL (avoiding the gators). Jan’s favorite season was spring and she just loved daffodils, tulips, crocus, and her favorite (named by grandson Ashton when he was little) “For Sissy bushes” (aka Forsythia).  Jan was always so thoughtful and would always share her flowers & little special notes & gifts for every holiday, birthday and season with her family and friends.  Thinking of others always before herself, she was the glue that held her family together, she always would say “I am sorry” first and would do everything in her power to make everything okay.  If you were sad she would find a way to make you feel better.  She would send little inspirational texts daily to family and friends to keep everyone’s spirits up, especially when she knew someone was not feeling well or things were not going right for them.  Jan “Nana” would never say no to anyone, (especially her grandchildren) she was often seen “zooming” around town to the store to get a special food/treat or dropping someone off at school (and running back 10 min later with a forgotten homework assignment or lunch).  Nana would always remember your favorite meal and have it ready and waiting if you had been away.  It will never be the same in her multi-generational home, but her family will treasure her memory and legacy of selfless love, giving, and caring of others before herself in their hearts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to WellTab at https://welltab.org/donate in honor of Janet Lory to support the free distribution of tablets to hospitalized patients (like Jan) unable to see/pray/communicate (and read an impressive amount of library books) with their families due to pandemic restrictions.

A private service will be held at Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Ave, Ramsey on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. The service will be live streamed for friends and family (click on the live stream at 10:30 a.m.) The interment will be private. 

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Janet K. "Nana" (Phillips) Lory, please visit our Tree Store.