On Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, our beloved mother, Janet Knaus Denison passed on to be with her loving husband, parents, brothers and all those who loved her in life. All of her four children were with her at her home in Falmouth, Massachusetts as she took her last breath. She died peacefully and did so only after her son arrived to say goodbye. She waited until all of her children were there and when she was ready to leave this earth, she did so knowing all who loved her on this side of the veil were with her.

No words can express the person she was, a brilliant, creative person who did not know the meaning of "no". She created from nothing, used her vast talents to write, create theatre in every respect and teach many children and adults her craft. She was loved and respected by many. Mom loved her family more than anything in the world however and although her life was often challenging and difficult, she persevered and never gave up. She was a success in every sense of the word and she will never be forgotten.

Janet was born Janet Wilson Knaus to Albert C. Knaus and Eleanor Wilson Knaus on May 19, 1928 in Montclair, New Jersey. She was the second of three children and the only girl, raised on Harvard Street in Montclair. Jan always knew that she wanted to be in theatre, though her mother (our beloved grandmother, "Bama") certainly had other ideas. Mom said that her mother wanted her to become a missionary and the two struggled for some time trying to understand where the other one was coming from (which is probably putting it mildly). Nevertheless, Jan never lost sight of her dream.

She attended Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Massachusetts. Her education continued at Bennett College, the Herbert Bergdorf Studio, the American Shakespeare Theatre, Columbia University, Cape Cod Community College, Syracuse University, and Marist College. Jan continued to hone her acting and theatre skills her entire life.

Trying to convey all of our mother's accomplishments was a challenge, and we are confident we haven't captured everything. She was first and foremost an actress, with numerous roles in plays performed under the Dutchess County Children's Theatre, Harwich Junior Theatre, Marist College, her own Community Experimental Repertory Theatre, Bardavon 1869 Opera House, County Players, Valley Theatre Company, and she also had roles in workshops with Dr. George Tuttle of Dartmouth College, and the Cape Playhouse. Her amazing skills included creative drama, with national recognition from the American Theatre Association; playwright for children's educational theatre, children's books and poetry; lyricist and composer; theatre teacher for the handicapped and functionally challenged, and for socio-economically disadvantaged youth; sculpting, painting, and reading; teacher of classes in advanced acting and scene study; costume and set design for children's theatre; costume execution; and artistic director of many children's theatre productions. She won the New York State Regional Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Drama, the Jim Britt Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Theatre Arts in Dutchess County, a Special Commendation from the Dutchess County Legislature, and The Creative Drama for Human Awareness Award in 1984, presented by the American Theatre Association.

When we were all growing up in Poughkeepsie, Mom had an unforgettable refrigerator magnet that read, "Grow Where You Are Planted". Indeed, wherever she was, she grew where she was planted and she was always in involved in something worthwhile. In the 1960's, Mom was a Girl Scout Leader at Forest Glen, a Girl Scout camp in Poughkeepsie off Spackenkill Road, an enthusiastic example of leadership, showing many girls in the local community how to have fun. She was a faithful, active member of the New Hackensack Reformed Church, and we recall her directing holiday plays there throughout the years. In 1972, Jan was one of the founding members of a partnership called the Children's Experimental Repertory Theatre (CERT). This innovative theatre company went to many schools in the Hudson Valley and New York State to teach creative drama and perform for children, and it was certainly the centerpiece of our mother's many accomplishments. It lasted until about 1987, after Mom and Dad moved from the Hudson Valley, living there for almost 30 years. Mom lived the majority of her life in Poughkeepsie, NY and this is where she "grew" the most....but it didn't stop there. After her husband and our father, Don, retired from many years at IBM, Mom and Dad moved to the home of our many childhood summers, Harwich, Cape Cod, from 1984 to 1986. Not very interested in retirement, Mom became Artistic Director and Producer of the Harwich Junior Theatre. At the Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans, she was a teacher of creative drama, acting and scene study, and at the Cape Cod Conservatory, she was the Managing Director of their in-school touring company. We all loved the Cape and we have so many wonderful memories, but for Mom and Dad, the winters "down Cape" were making them restless. In 1986, Jan and Don moved to Red Bank, NJ. At Tatum Park in Middletown, NJ, Jan established an ongoing children's program, producing theatre for children by children. She also produced, directed, and costumed and held technical classes in set construction and design for children between six and sixteen. At Long Branch High School, she held after-school creative drama workshops for Hispanic students and at Monmouth County Park Systems, she was the drama leader of a program developed to meet the needs (such as self-esteem) of neurologically impaired young adults. At Brookdale Community College, Jan was the drama program leader for PROJECT IMPACT, designed for low-income minority students. She was part of a national organization that was way ahead of its time in its goal of inclusivity, "Drama and Theatre By, With and For Handicapped Individuals". Dad's health was starting to fail, so they resolved to move to a warmer climate.

When Mom and Dad finally moved to Florida, and after our father had passed, Mom continued working into her 70's and 80's with local schools in Indian River County, passionately engaged with the theatre and teaching creative drama to children. She even taught a recent immigrant to the United States there how to speak English. Making an impact is who Mom was, and we know our mother's life touched so many in a positive way.

It was always fun to be around Mom, who could strike up a song at any moment, or practice a line or two from a script while you were listening (and even when you were not). She had a favorite line from an unknown play that goes like this, "It's my eye, ya' know...that's what does it mostly." This would tend to come up quite frequently for some reason and every time, we'd all be figuratively rolling on the floor in laughter. Mom also had this little story that had the same effect by the name of, "Edgar, My Pet Mountain Lion". She would start in with the story, and if we recall, there was a line where someone is asked to blow out a candle, and for some reason the character who asks the question can only blow out of the sides of his mouth. He responds by replying "I wish you would" out of one side and then "I wish you would" out of the other side. Mom stayed in character for the entire story and her mouth contortions were enough to make you laugh until your stomach ached. In our world, all the house was a stage. It is something that we will never forget, and oh, how we will miss it!

So many people have told us that when they think of our mother Jan, they smile. She had such a spark, funny and creative, and a personality larger than life itself. A dear friend of ours put it so well when she said, "Your mom had a wonderful life but it doesn't make it any easier to see it end. Losing a parent is one of those very personal and visceral experiences.  It is a kind of primal and grievous unmooring from the anchor one has had for literally one's lifetime." Yes...it is absolutely that...and we were so lucky to have Jan as our mom. It is still hard to believe that she is no longer with us and that we won't be able to hear her laugh and her voice expressing her ever-enthusiastic love of life. Our heart is breaking in the knowledge that we will not see her again in this life but we know we will see her again someday. We also know this to be true..."The time in which we are separated from those we love is but a short while. On that golden day in which we are reunited, we shall know boundless joy forever......forever." Until then Mom, live on in peace and happiness. We will love you eternally.

Jan leaves four children: Patricia Denison of Falmouth, Mass., Kathryn Denison Roth (John) of Merritt Island, Florida, Peter Denison (Kay) of Poughkeepsie, NY, and Kyle Denison Robbins (Michael) of Middletown, NJ, as well as ten wonderful grandchildren: Adam Schmidt, Rick Champon, Tracy Wilcox, Robert Champon, Maggie Phelan-Wells, Brianne Creamer, Troy Denison, Tristan Robbins, Connor Robbins, and Brian Robbins. She also leaves fourteen beloved great-grandchildren. Cherished nephews and nieces include William Knaus, Bert Knaus, David Knaus, Lucinda Knaus, and Carol Sneden. Her loving husband, Donald Andrew Denison, and her two brothers, Albert Knaus and Arthur Knaus, predeceased her.

Donations may be made in Jan's name to the Cape Cod Theatre Company | Harwich Junior Theatre, 105 Division St., W. Harwich, MA 02671.

The family invites friends and relatives to a graveside service at Island Pond Cemetery in Harwich, Massachusetts on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 2 PM. The service will be followed by a celebration of Jan's life at the Parish House of the First Congregational Church in Harwich Center. RSVP's for Jan's celebration of her life following the graveside service are appreciated to peter@gladtobehome.info.

Obituary lovingly written by the family of Janet Denison