Janice Marie Novak, 62, of Williston, Vermont, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 9, 2023, in the presence of her loving family.

She was born on July 8, 1960 in Pittsfield, MA to Joseph and Helen (Lesniak) Monterosso, the second of four children. She grew up under the warm and watchful eye of not just her parents, but a large group of friends, neighbors, and relatives as well. Her father passed away when she was a teenager and her mother raised the kids on her own after that. Janice took on the role of a second parent to her siblings, which shaped her into the compassionate and warm-hearted woman that she was.

She graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1978, after which she worked at Lightning Technologies as an Executive Assistant to the CEO. She excelled at and enjoyed the work and the people there.

In 1986, she met a young, skinny guy named Howard at a dance club in Pittsfield. They married three years later on May 20, 1989, and moved to Vermont to set about establishing a life together. Janice again took an Executive Assistant position, this time working for the owners of the largest hotel in town, the Sheraton, while Howard was establishing his dental practice in Richmond.

Daughters Jessica and Alex came along a few years later and the focus of life changed. Janice loved being a mom and had a strong protective instinct (think life jackets while skating on a friend’s frozen pond). She always made family her first priority and the girls are a testament to her quality parenting!

While the kids were in school, Janice spent time working at several local merchants including Willow House, Marilyn’s Boutique, and Harrington’s of Vermont. She always took pride in her work and in doing her part for the family budget. She would stash her earnings away and then use them for an array of “treats” for the family as the urge struck her, ranging from a special dinner out to little upgrades on family trips. Our family always loved her for that!

Janice got to experience many exciting travel destinations, both domestic and abroad. She had a great talent for putting trips together and created many wonderful adventures for her family. She had a great love for the beach and was always sure to plan trips that involved getting her family’s toes in the sand and the sun on their faces. She and Howard also went on many “tool around” trips where they would check out a town or state they hadn’t visited before, making sure to enjoy delicious eateries along the way.

Janice also had some serious chops in the kitchen, especially when it came to Italian cuisine. She created many incredible meals over the years, much to the delight of her friends and family. Whether it was a small dinner with friends or a big 4th of July bash, everyone knew they would eat well at the Novak household.

Janice was sharp of mind and spirit, which she carried with her until the end. She loved to laugh; she was humorous and loved humor in others and her laugh could quickly become one of the most contagious sounds in a room. She had strong principles and she lived by them. She also had a certain class and panache that drew people in and it is one of the many reasons she will live on in the thoughts and memories of so many.

Janice is survived by her husband Howard; her daughters Alexandra and Jessica, and her husband Reid Kapinos; her mother Helen; her sisters Vicki Wichmann and Karen Dow, and her husband Steve; her sister-in-law Robin Monterosso; as well as many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. She was predeceased by her father Joseph; her older brother Steve; and her mother-in-law and her husband, Rita and Al Cohen.

Janice was a 23-year cancer survivor. That did not happen by accident. We would like to thank the many skilled and caring nurses, doctors, and staff at the UVM Medical Center, whose efforts allowed Janice to stay with us so much longer than she otherwise might have. We would also like to thank the outstanding doctors, nurses, LNAs, and volunteers at the McClure-Miller Respite House. Their guidance, care, and understanding eased her path and allowed us the opportunity to be with and love her in her final days. We also want to send a heartfelt thank you to all the friends and family who have kept our stomachs full and blessed us with countless gestures of love and support over the past months. We love you and appreciate the warm blanket of comfort you have provided.

Family and friends are invited to join us in celebrating Janice’s life. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, March 23rd from 4-6pm at Ready Funeral Home, 68 Pinecrest Drive, Essex Junction, Vermont. A service of remembrance will take place on Friday, March 24th at 11am at the All-Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne, Vermont. 

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