Janet Ann Orefice of Wakefield, Rhode Island, passed away on August 16, 2026. Janet was born on February 24, 1950 in Hartford, Connecticut. When she passed, Janet's loving husband, Larry was at her side.

Janet's first home was on the Miller family farm in Granby, CT. The Miller family later moved to Hartford, where Janet graduated from South Catholic High School.

After high school, Janet graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a degree in elementary education. She went on to earn a Masters Degree in Education, and later a 6th Year Certificate in Education.

Janet was a teacher at the Tariffville School in Simsbury for over twenty years. She loved teaching; she loved her students, and she loved her school as well as her exceptional co-workers.

Janet and her husband Larry married in 1973, raising their family in the Greater Hartford area and residing in Simsbury for 31 years. Upon retirement in 2011, Janet and Larry moved to Wakefield, Rhode Island, where they have spent fifteen happy years.

In retirement, Janet enjoyed reading, often under the sun (she always had a beautiful tan!). She experimented with knitting and painting, but her true passion was cooking. The kitchen was always the epicenter of the family, with all family members enjoying the bonding pleasures of cooking. She loved trying new recipes and she was always the maestro, supervising the preparation of family holiday dinners. She took great joy in preparing meals with her beloved grandsons, Henry and Walter.

A kind and generous soul, Janet volunteered in the food pantry of the Jonnycake Center for Hope in Peacedale, RI for over 10 years. At the food pantry Janet made many special and dear friends.

Janet enjoyed Florida, especially New Smyrna Beach, where she and her husband were fortunate to spend fourteen winters after retirement.

Besides her husband, Janet leaves her son Matthew and his sons Henry and Walter of Seattle, WA.; son Andrew of New Haven, CT; son John and his wife, Dr. Kathleen Minor, of Woodside, CA. She also leaves a host of lifelong friends from Connecticut, as well as many new treasured friends from Rhode Island. Janet was predeceased by her loving parents, Regina and Bill Miller, and her lovely daughter-in-law, architect Laura Lenss, wife of Matthew and Mother of Henry and Walter.

A private burial service will be held at the Rhode Island Veterans' Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Avery-Storti Funeral Home of Wakefield has care of the arrangements. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the Jonnycake Center for Hope, 22 Kersey Rd,. Wakefield, RI 02879.

A celebration of Janet's life will be held on August 25 in the Tavern Room at the General Stanton Inn, 4115 Old Post Rd., Charlestown RI. Friends and family are asked to gather at 11:30 A.M., and a program to honor Janet will commence at noon. After the program, guests are invited to join the Orefice family for lunch. Dress is business casual.