Janet Gail Rice

WINTHROP – Janet Gail Rice, 72, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 7, 2022.

Born in Rahway, New Jersey, on Oct. 2, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Betty Roediger and Alfred Roediger. Janet graduated from Rahway High School in 1967, attaining the dual accolades of class artist and class clown. She then followed her dream of studying art by attending Vesper George School of Art in Boston.

Janet married her high school sweetheart, Dale Rice Jr,, on June 20, 1970. Together they shared three children, Jesse, Luke, and Shannon. In 1977 they embarked on a new adventure, moving to Winthrop, Maine. It was here that Janet and Dale raised their children and met lifelong friends who are held dear to this day.

Janet attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Services from the University of Maine at Farmington. After working at Gardiner Hospital for several years, she then turned her eyes toward another great love, cooking. She cooked for Nicolson’s Nursing Home as well as the Theatre at Monmouth. In her younger years in Maine she was a gas station attendant at Wadleigh’s and an apple picker for a local orchard.

Janet was an artist at heart. Photography, music, cooking, drawing, and gardening were all passions where she excelled. Another great passion of Janet’s was the written word, reading, and collecting books. From a very early age she could be found with her nose in a good book, history being her favorite.

Janet’s Christian faith was very important to her. She took great comfort in knowing that Jesus was her savior and redeemer. She valued the tradition and rituals of the Catholic Church and converted to Catholicism many years ago.

Janet will be missed by all who loved her. Her witty charm and love of laughter always came through. She was always willing to lend an ear and give advice to anyone who needed encouragement. Indeed, all of her children’s friends over the years always knew that they could hang out at the Rice house; she would always be there to lend support and a kind word. After her kids grew up and made their own lives and careers, Janet’s favorite pastime was to hang out with Jesse, Luke, and the Five Star Builders crew after each workday.

Janet was predeceased by her beloved maternal grandmother, Irene Hasty Roy, her grandfather Emile, paternal grandparents, Lucie and Hans Roediger, and her parents Betty and Alfred.

She is survived by her son Jesse Rice and his wife Suzy, son Luke Rice and the mother of his children Alicia, daughter Shannon Rice and her husband Brett; grandchildren, Ross, Abbigale, Mattilda, Lydia, Ella, and Lucas; father of her children, Dale Rice and his wife Joy; brother Paul Roediger and his partner Linda Lou, sister Susan Roediger and her husband Doug Hinshaw, brother-in-law Glenn Rice and his wife Janet; and sisters-in-law, Sally Leavelle and her husband Clyde and Patti Roediger. Janet was a proud aunt to four nephews and five nieces.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held to celebrate Janet’s life at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, 20 Lake Street, Winthrop on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. A graveside service will follow at Glenside Cemetery, Turkey Lane, Winthrop along with a gathering thereafter at Five Star Builders, 891 Sturtevant Hill Road, where all are welcome.

The family would like to extend their thanks for the nurses and Doctors at Maine General Medical Center for keep Janet comfortable and for holding her hand during her last moments on earth.

Arrangements are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, ME 04364 where memories and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.khrfuneralhome.com.

Janet loved animals and had many “best friends” over the years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the Kennebec Humane Society

10 Pet Haven Lane

Augusta, ME 04330

Janet Gail Rice