MANCHESTER, CONN. AND FRANKLIN
Rebecca Drew Janenda, wife and 53-year partner of Joel E. Janenda, died Sept. 4 after a courageous battle with cancer. Becky was a strong, thoughtful and intelligent woman and always proud of her Maine roots. She was born in Old Town in October 1942 to Dana Drew of Patten and Ruth Wooster Drew of Old Town and Franklin. She grew up and lived her whole life as part of a large, extended Wooster family and loved visiting with and cooking for her parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews on Taunton Bay in Franklin.
With a Dad who was an educator and school administrator, Becky, her older sister Sue, and younger brother Tom lived and went to school in several communities in Maine and Massachusetts. An excellent student, she attended and graduated from the University of Connecticut, where she met Joel. They were married in June 1964.
Becky worked as a social studies teacher to put Joel through the University of Connecticut Law School. After law school graduation, they decided to build their lives and become part of the community in Manchester, Conn., where they raised two sons, John and Tom, for whom Becky was a constant source of love, affection, support, and encouragement.
Becky chose to give up work outside the home while the boys were young, but remained constantly involved as a volunteer in the Manchester and greater Hartford area. Among other things, she was actively involved with the League of Women Voters for whom she hosted a weekly cable television show where she interviewed political and community leaders on important issues of the day. She was also a lead organizer of the first two foreign exchange trips (Israel and West Berlin) organized as part of President Jimmy Carter’s “Friendship Force” effort to foster citizen diplomacy and peace. Because of her leadership and involvement, Becky was asked to serve as a member of the initial Leadership Greater Hartford organization in the late 1970s and early 1980s. As the boys approached college age, Becky returned to work running the small business aspects of Joel’s law firm and spent 14 years serving on the Auxilliary and Board of the Eastern Connecticut Health System.
Following the death of her grandmother Sarah Wooster, Becky served 17 years as the president of the Wooster family corporation and worked closely with other family members to safeguard the family property on Taunton Bay in Hancock County, Maine for future generations.
In addition to this involvement and engagement professionally and in the community, it was the time, thoughtfulness and quiet acts of kindness, creativity and hospitality Becky loved to shower on her husband, children, friends, family and a lifelong circle of friends known as the “Breakfast Club” that all who knew her remember most.
She was an exceptionally talented and creative cook who saw food and flavor as a way to make people and gatherings feel special. She put on nearly every holiday for both sides of Becky and Joel’s families for years. An invitation to one of her dinners “up at camp” was often a highlight of the summer. Becky inherited her Mother, Ruth Wooster Drew’s, indefatigable energy and creative ability. She was an excellent seamstress. She loved to arrange flowers for friends and family. She created holiday displays, tables, wreaths, and decorations in various mediums that looked like magazine layouts. She had a great eye for antiques and knew how to refurbish and restore them.
For these reasons and so many more, Becky will be deeply missed by her family, friends and community. She is survived by her husband, Joel; her son Tom; her son John and his wife Lisa, grandson Mason, and granddaughter Avery; her sister Sue and brother Tom; and over 100 family members on both the Janenda and Wooster side of the family. The Harry and Sarah Wooster Homestead Corp. that protects the Wooster family property is part of her legacy, as is the recently created Ruth’s Legacy trust that protects her mother Ruth’s property on Taunton Bay.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to Friends of Taunton Bay, which protects the health and integrity of the Taunton Bay ecosystem in Franklin (www.friendsoftauntonbay.org; P.O. Box 411, Hancock, ME 04640; 422-6457).
A graveside service will be held this Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. at Bayview Cemetery in Franklin.