Janis Kocanowski

Janis Elaine Eberhart Kocanowski

September 22, 1933 – August 23, 2024

Janis Eberhart Kocanowski, 90, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Janis was born in Columbus, Ohio, and at the age of two moved with her family to Middlesex, NJ. She graduated from Bound Brook High School in 1951 and attended Somerset Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1954, and practiced nursing at Somerset Hospital before marrying the love of her life, Steve, on April 27, 1957. She worked nights in the emergency room at Somerset Hospital for many years, then was a night nurse at Rutgers-Livingston College before working as an industrial nurse at American Cyanamid, from which she retired.

Janis attended Bound Brook Congregational Church since 1935, serving as a deacon and a long-time member of the Women’s Association. She loved making beautiful crafts for their special events and annual church fairs.  Her interests were varied: she was an avid gardener of both flowers and vegetables, and a talented artist who sewed, quilted, sculpted, carved, and painted. One of her greatest joys was making things for those she loved and cared about; all the babies received sock monkeys, and wonderful handmade items were gifted to and treasured by her immediate and extended family members. Janis was also a collector and had many unusual and eclectic items creatively displayed in her home. Antiquing and camping were things she greatly enjoyed, but not as much as spending time with her granddaughters.

Janis was predeceased by her parents, Dr. Dale and Phyllis Eberhart, her brother David Eberhart, and her sister Marilynn (Eberhart) Van Dorn.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 66 years, Stephen Kocanowski; her daughter and son-in-law Stephanie and Gary Jeremiah; her son and daughter-in-law Andrew and Ampi Kocanowski; her sisters Connie Nicolay and Kathleen (Jack) Deupree; her brothers Quentin (Lynn) Eberhart and Gary (Gayle) Eberhart; her beloved granddaughters Katie Jeremiah and Karina Kocanowski; and many nieces, great nieces, nephews and great nephews.

Gathering with the family will be 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home, 225 Mountain Avenue, Bound Brook. Cremation was private.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Janis to the Congregational Church of Bound Brook, 209 Church Street, Bound Brook, NJ, 08805.