Janet Clare Grantz's Obituary
Janet Clare Glenn Grantz
September 18, 1937 - July 28, 2025
Janet Clare Grantz entered the nearer presence of God on July 28, 2025 surrounded by her loving family, some mostly tolerable family, and one disheveled detective who was still bothered by questions.
Jan was born on Saturday, September 18, 1937 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, the second (and arguably goofiest) of the six daughters of Clair Paul and Alma Ruth (Stivason) Glenn. After graduating from Kittanning High School in 1955, Jan went off to nursing school at St. Margaret’s in Pittsburgh for a while before being dismissed for a medical condition she didn’t actually have. Her unnecessary exclusion from fiscal autonomy did, however, allow her to continue an extraordinary courtship with Gene Grantz through the latter 1950s, resulting in their marriage on April 4, 1959. Shortly thereupon, the happy couple welcomed two amazing, wonderful, and talented sons: David and the other one. In 1968, Jan & Gene loaded the kids in their Ford Fairlane land yacht and moved to the Maryland burbs of Washington, D.C. There they welcomed a third son, Jason, and enjoyed a social life filled with religious and ethnic diversity and a fondness for Harvey Wallbangers. A move to Johnstown, PA in 1974 placed Jan & Co. in the right place and time for a big flood; then it was off to Aliquippa, PA where Jan embarked upon a career of service to senior citizens in various capacities at nursing homes and area agencies on aging until eventually aging out into retirement, which can only be viewed as ironic. After stops along the way in State College and Phillipsburg, PA, and Cambridge, MD, Jan and Gene settled down at long last in Seaford, Delaware.
Jan was a lifelong Episcopalian who loved the Church even if she didn’t always like it. She liked Grotto pizza and Lifesavers mints an awful lot. She could be feisty, raising her “Irish temper” or invoking her “Scots blood” whenever it suited her. She could also be silly, singing Girl Scout songs and show tunes befitting any occasion and working tirelessly to become a champion eye-roller. She was also a freeze-dried coffee aficionado and a skilled napper.
Jan is preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Shirley and Thelma; and by two siblings who died in infancy, Joann and William. Surviving are her husband of 66 years, Gene; sons Dr. David Glenn Grantz (Marianne) of Seaford, DE; The Very Rev. Brian Glenn Grantz (Tamisyn) of South Bend, IN; and Mr. Jason Glenn Grantz of South Carolina and daughter-in-law Ms. Jacqueline Grantz of Shakopee, MN. Honorable mention goes to her nephew, Mr. John Sell (Drew) of Rehoboth Beach, DE. Also surviving are three sisters: Judy Kunkle, Kathy Sell, and Margaret Pase; and six grandchildren - Nathan, Jesse, Thaddeus, Rose, Jared, and Jadon - strewn about from New York City to Minnesota, but nary a great-grandchild, not that it’s any of our business.
A funeral service will be held at 10 am on Saturday, August 2 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Seaford, Delaware, the Rev. Mark Delcuze officiating. A reception will follow in the parish hall. An additional memorial service will be held during the first week of September at The Manor House in Seaford, Delaware, the Rev. Dr. Craig von Buseck officiating.
Interment will be at Kittanning Cemetery in Kittanning, Pennsylvania at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to St. Luke’s Church, Seaford, DE.
Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
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