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Norwich - Janice "Jan" Alberta (Decker) Stewart, 83 years old, entered eternal life Dec. 1, 2021, with her family at her side. Jan was born in Burlington, Kan., Dec. 24, 1937, to the late Bert and Maude Decker and graduated from Burlington High School. She was employed at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Topeka, Kan., where she met her beloved husband, Ray, who was serving in the U.S. Air Force, and stationed at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka. After their marriage in Burlington, they moved to various locations, including California, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Norwich, Ct., due to her husband's employment with General Dynamics. She worked as a credit officer at Bank of America in San Diego, substituted in the Norwich pre-school program, but later decided to be an "at home mom," volunteering at their children's schools. She attended numerous colleges in Connecticut. In 1975, she began her career with the Norwich (Rose City) Senior Center, located adjacent to Otis Library in a one-room store front. Jan was appointed senior affairs director in 1977, and moved to the Buckingham Memorial Building. With the assistance of Senator Kenneth Prsybysz, state funds were obtained and a new senior center was built on Mahan Drive in 1994. Because of Jan's love for working with the elderly, she received many awards for new, innovative and outstanding programs from the Connecticut Association of Senior Center Personnel. She was the first recipient of the Dr. Singer Award from Prevent Blindness Connecticut and the Board of Education and Services for the Blind. She received the President's Volunteer Action Award from President Ronald Reagan, the Congressional Record by U.S. Representative Sam Gejdenson and a citation from State Senator James J. Murphy for the Senior Citizen Job Bank. Following her retirement in 2000, she continued her commitments to organizations such as the Woman's City Club of Norwich, where she served on the board of directors as president, program chairperson, and financial chairperson; Backus Hospital Board of Directors and Trustees, Backus Hospital Auxiliary Board of Directors as resident and recording secretary; UCFS Eldercare advisory committee; Senior Affairs Commission; Monday study club; AARP #1004 as treasurer, and Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce. She served as first president of Mahan PTA; president, vice president and secretary of Saints Peter and Paul Couples Club; Norwich Little League board of directors as secretary, Minor Little League director, and auxiliary president, coordinator of the docent program at Norwich City Hall, and ushered at Mohegan Sun Arena. Jan and Ray loved to travel; and they visited all 50 U.S. states, 26 foreign countries and all the Caribbean Islands. Jan loved having her family get-togethers with their five children and spouses and 15 grandchildren and spouses and eight great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Ray, of 64 married years, who was the love of her life; and by her children: Kevin (Gail), Wethersfield, Cheryl Goodson (Terry), Plymouth, Mass., Rick (Lisa), Norwich, Dave (Lize-Anne), Sprague, and Chris (Jodi), Jackson, N.J.; grandchildren: Brendan, Colin and Maura Stewart, Heather Ingeno, Megan Boback (Becky), Mallory Collins (Emet), Kaitlin, Zachary, Shannon, Kyle, Cameron, Dane (Kim), Reagan, Riley and Reese Stewart; great-grandchildren: Makenna, Anthony, Maximus and Alina Ingeno, Landon and Lilly Penna and Ezra Collins; and her sister Darlene Moritz. She was predeceased by her sisters: Aileen, Reta, Ella May and Agnes; and brothers, Lawrence and Paul. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, at Saints Peter and Paul Church, 181 Elizabeth Street, Norwich. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, at the Woyasz & Son Funeral Home, 11 Jerome Road, Uncasville. The family requests everyone follow COVID protocols and wear a mask. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saints Peter and Paul Church, 181 Elizabeth Street, Norwich, CT. 06360, or Rose City Senior Center, 8 Mahan Drive, Norwich, CT. 06360. Published by The Day on Dec. 4, 2021. Link: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theday/name/janice-stewart-obituary?id=31753058