Obituary of Janet M. Gaunt

Janet Margaret Gaunt, aged 89, passed away at her home in Washington Twp. on November 5, 2018. Born on March 8, 1929, in Bridgeton, NJ, to Hilda Adelaide (nee Polkinhorn) and Albert Ellwood Horner, she grew up there with her younger sister Lois May Horner Dallett. After graduating from Bridgeton High School in 1947, Janet worked for a year at Seabrook Farms. She met Richard M. Gaunt through their cousins and they were married on August 28, 1948, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bridgeton. After marriage, Janet and Dick lived in Pitman before moving to Bunker Hill in Washington Township in 1949. They converted the original one-room Bunker Hill Schoolhouse to the family home where she has resided for nearly 70 years. As an active member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Hurffville, Janet sang in the choir, was in the Women's Society for Christian Service (WSCS), the JOY Class (Jesus, Others, You!) and participated in numerous other church activities over the years. She and Dick were avid campers and were some of the earliest members of the National Campers and Hikers Association (NCHA) in the mid-50s; they loved camping with their friends in the So Jerners and Cosmic Campers clubs. For years, they had a summer campsite at Lake Kandle, and after Dick retired, they spent many winters at a mobile home park in Melbourne Beach, Florida. Janet loved planting and caring for flowers outside and keeping her violets and other plants growing on her heated porch over the winter. In addition, she enjoyed quilting, making cross stitch quilts for each new grandchild and great-grandchild, reading and doing Search-A-Word puzzles. Janet is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Edward E. and Carol J. Gaunt of Carrboro, NC; her daughter and son-in-law Constance A. and Craig W. Townsend of Washington Twp; her brother-in-law and his wife Lee and Brenda Gaunt of Laurinburg, NC; eight grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her youngest son, Paul R. Gaunt and his wife Dale, and her sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Wilmer Dallett. Friends may call on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 6-8PM and Monday from 10-11AM in the KELLEY FUNERAL HOME, 125 Pitman Ave, Pitman. NJ. Funeral service at 11AM. Interment Bethel Cemetery in Hurffville, NJ. The family would like to thank the nurses at Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice ( https://samaritannj.org/ ) and the home health aides at Comfort Keepers in Pitman ( https://pitman-837.comfortkeepers.com ) for the excellent care they provided Janet.