Janice LaRue

Pawling, NY/Massena, NY/Moore Haven, FL - Janice Marie Burnett LaRue, 82, passed away peacefully at her home in Moore Haven, FL, after a battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family on October 7, 2024.

Jan was born in Hermon, NY on August 12, 1942, daughter of the late Theodore and Ruth Grace (Blackmer) Burnett. She graduated from Massena High School. On September 3, 1960, she married the love of her life, Timothy Edward LaRue at Sacred Heart Church in Massena with Monsr. Louis Berube celebrating the mass. They shared a blessed union for over 64 years.

She continued her education with an associate's degree from Dutchess Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY New Paltz. She worked with community mental health and health management as a social worker at Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center and Hudson River Psychiatric Center. She retired after 35 years of dedicated service on June 13, 1996.

Jan was a former Lion member and the club's secretary, President of the Pawling Health Association, a Pawling Catholic Daughter, a member of St. Joseph's Ladies Guild in Moore Haven. FL, the Director of Recreation at the Sportsman Village Condo Association in Moore Haven, FL, she taught line dancing and was the Card Lady, a member of the Square Dance Association and the American Folk Music Association in Torrington, CT.

Jan loved: her grandchildren, and being Grandma to all of their friends, cooking for you (many a birthday cake!), line dancing, square dancing, music, movies, crocheting, reading, flowers and pretty things that sparkled. She did not hesitate to tell you what she thought - usually unfiltered. While sick, she said she wanted people to remember her as she had been, full of life and spirit.

She is survived by her husband, Timothy, two children, Thomas Scott LaRue (Carolyn Rocchi) of Altoona, FL, and Valerie Ann (Chris) Burke of Pawling, NY, her grandchildren, Damian Scott LaRue, Danielle Marie LaRue Matthei, Cameron Jack Burke and Haley Ruth Burke, her siblings, Lonna Jean Burnett, Timothy Dale (Kelly) Burnett and Donald George (Peggysue) Burnett, sisters-in-law Barbara Hurley, Susan (Claude) Munday, and brother-in-law, Billy LaRue, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, two brothers, Theodore James, Jr. and Lonnie Burnett and sister-in-law Sherry (Tim) LaLonde.

Special thanks go out to VITAS Hospice of Fort Myers caregivers: Beth, Toni and Olivia.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Jan's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital www.stjude.org.

Her family will receive friends at Hufcut Funeral Home in Dover Plains, NY on Saturday, October 19th from 2 to 4 pm. Graveside services will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Massena, NY on Monday, October 21st at 3 pm. Arrangements are entrusted to Hammill Funeral Home in Winthrop, NY, where memories can be shared with her family at www.hammillfh.com.