Janice Litchfield Porter, 83, of Camillus, died Monday, July 19, 2021, at Syracuse Home after a long illness. Born Nov. 16, 1937, in Wilmington, DE, to Loring and Helen Quirk Litchfield, Janice grew up in Delaware and Newton, MA.
She studied early childhood education at Syracuse University where she met her husband of 62 years, James “Jim” Porter. These pinned college sweethearts married in 1958 while Janice was still a student. She graduated from SU in 1959, pregnant with her first child barely concealed under her graduation gown. Janice and Jim lived in Syracuse and Trumansburg but raised their four children in the Orchard Village neighborhood of Camillus where they enjoyed an active social life with neighbors-turned-lifelong friends.
Children, music and nature were Janice’s passions. She combined them perfectly in her job as a pre-school teacher, initially at First Presbyterian Church in Baldwinsville and later at Holy Family School in Camillus where, during her long tenure, she eventually taught the children of former students. After leaving Holy Family, Janice started her own business, bringing music to area pre-schools. Her energetic nature and fun songs captivated the shyest of youngsters. Her passion for nature was born and nurtured in New Hampshire where she became a camper for life at Camp Marlyn and Camp Nokomis, serving as a beloved staffer and tennis director, even as a mother.
Janice’s father built a cabin on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, which became her happy place. She summered there until she no longer could, sharing her love of the lake, mountains, loons and “dock time” with her children, nephews, grandchildren and other family and friends. Not necessarily athletic, but always active, Janice enjoyed swimming, tennis and skiing, teaching her children to ski at Song Mountain. Later in life, she took pleasure in Syracuse Stage plays and symphonies and sang with the Syracuse and MasterWorks chorales.
Janice was predeceased by her parents; brother, Loring Litchfield; her father’s second wife, Mary Frances Litchfield; and her brother-in-law, William Sabia.
Janice is survived by her devoted husband, Jim, who embodied the vows of marriage, especially during her last years with Alzheimer’s, and their four children, J. Scott (Susan) Porter of Seneca Falls, NY, Jennifer (Bob) Kraus of Manlius, NY, Jonathan (Lin) Porter of Mill Valley, CA and Jason (Jennifer) Porter of Bedford, NH. Janice is also survived by ten grandchildren, Stephen, Hannah, Nora and Sean Kraus, Catherine and Jeremy Porter, Jack and Ben Porter, and Jocelyn and Jared Porter. Also surviving are two “sisters” from her father’s second marriage, Peyton Schofield of Wilmington, DE and Debbie Anderson of Kinston, NC, and their families; sister-in-law, Alberta Sabia of Rochester; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Janice’s memory to MasterWorks Chorale, P.O. Box 731, Skaneateles, NY 13152 or to Camp Nokomis-checks payable to Merrimack Valley YMCA, 360 Merrimack St., Suite 270, Lawrence, MA 01843.
The family would also like to thank those who cared for them and Janice during her journey, especially the Syracuse Home staff whose job was only made harder by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Share condolences at BuranichFH.com.
