Obituary of Janet J. Kuenstner

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother

Janet J. Kuenstner, formerly of Caldwell, N.J., and Winchester Gardens in Maplewood, N.J., peacefully passed away on Tuesday, September 22nd, at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ, with her loving family at her side.

She was born in Teaneck, NJ, to John and Augusta (Ludders) Johansen. She graduated from New Jersey College for Women (Douglass College at Rutgers University) in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Library Science.

Janet worked for many years as the librarian for Lincoln and Washington schools in the Caldwell-West Caldwell school system. She shared her love for books and reading with thousands of elementary school students over more than three decades of teaching.

Janet was active at the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell while her family was growing up, and more recently was a member of Wyoming Presbyterian Church in Millburn, NJ.

Janet was pre-deceased by her husband of 69 years, Robert C. Kuenstner, who died in 2019. Surviving are her devoted children, Nancy Jo Kuenstner (Hugo Verdegaal), Dr. Todd Kuenstner (Alyson Will), Ellen Kuenstner (Thomas Welsh), Paul Kuenstner (Debby), Susan Kuenstner (Thomas Coleman); nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family will plan a service to celebrate Janet's life, to be held when pandemic conditions allow, but tentatively on or near her birthday on August 6th.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Winchester Gardens Resident Association Scholarship Fund (WGRA Scholarship Fund C/O Julie Towel, Winchester Gardens, 333 Elmwood Ave, Maplewood, N.J.) would be appreciated.