JANET CARLISLE BOGDAN

ORWELL — Our beloved Janet Carlisle Bogdan of Orwell, Vt., died on Aug. 17, 2024, with family by her side. Janet, wife of Robert (Bob) Charles Bogdan, and the daughter of Ruth (Burt) Carlisle and James Mallory Carlisle Jr., was 84 years old. She will be deeply missed by her family, and remembered fondly by friends, neighbors, community members, and others whose lives she touched.

Janet was born on April 29, 1940, in Philadelphia, Pa., and grew up with her three siblings, Dixie (Lillian Dixon Carlisle), Peg (Margaret Ann Hanousek), and Jim (James Mallory Carlisle III). She spent much of her childhood in New Jersey, graduating from Westfield High School in 1958. She did her undergraduate work in literature at Penn State and earned a Masters and Ph.D. in Sociology from Syracuse University, with a dissertation on the History of Childbirth. She was an avid SU basketball fan, cheering surprisingly loudly at games.

Jan and Bob, her partner for more than 60 years, were active in the civil rights movement and joined the Peace Corps together in Nigeria, where they had their first child. After returning to Syracuse, they began storied careers as professors, Jan teaching at Le Moyne college, also in Syracuse, where they grew their family to four children.

In the early 1980s, Jan and Bob purchased a dilapidated farmhouse in Orwell, Vt. They spent many summers fixing up the house with their children and friends, with the hopes of retiring there, which they did in 2005. Tending to their garden, stewarding the fields and forest, experiencing the changing seasons in all their glory, and connecting to the community brought them deep contentment. Their Orwell home became a gathering place for relatives, friends and, happily, their six grandchildren.

Although Jan’s life was full of success as a professor, she often said her greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was raising her four children. Jan was a devoted mother, steadfastly encouraging and contributing to her kids’ varied interests. There was rarely a time she didn’t stop what she was doing to help with homework or provide emotional support. She learned the rules for different sports or obtained the necessary certification so she could volunteer on their teams. She modeled a loving partnership, forgiveness, generosity, kindness and unconditional love. She taught a sense of justice and respect for the dignity of all people. She persevered through hardship and helped others do the same.

Jan will be remembered for her gentle kindness, genuine curiosity and her warm nature; her love of laughing and willingness to laugh at herself; her subtle facial expressions and the conversational comments she made to herself; her thrifty spirit; her desire to open her home to both her friends and her kids’ friends; her joy of small things and appreciation of beauty in its many forms; her gift of listening without interruption when it was needed the most; and for the rare intimacy and unwavering love she shared with her husband, Bob.

Janet is survived by her husband, Bob, and her four children, Yinka, Meg, Chet and Jono Bogdan; her siblings, Dixie (and wife Linda Yenkin) and Jim Carlisle; and all of her loving grandchildren, Calvin Thayer, Martha McQuillan, Athena Bogdan, Luke McQuillan, Riley Bogdan, and Jude Bogdan. Janet was predeceased by her parents and her sister Peg.

A celebration of Jan’s life will be forthcoming. Arrangements are under the direction of Sanderson Funeral Services in Middlebury, Vt. Memories can be shared online at www.sandersonfuneralservice.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a non-profit organization that offers food, shelter, medical care or respite, or you can show kindness to a stranger today in remembrance of Jan.◊