BRUNSWICK — Janet P. Sylvester, 83, of Brunswick, ME, died peacefully in her home on Tuesday, July 23, 2013, surrounded by family and friends. She is predeceased by her father, Leonard B. Puffer, and mother, Alice Hartigan, of Orange, NJ, and brother, L. Bruce Puffer, of Morristown, NJ.

Janet was born May 10, 1930 in Orange, NJ, and was a 1948 graduate of Clifford J. Scott High School in East Orange, NJ. She was employed as an executive secretary at Colonial Life in Orange, NJ, before marrying and moving to Pittsfield, MA.

While raising her four children, she kept active in her church and sang frequently in her choir. Her love of singing and music inspired her to be self-taught in classical piano, playing complicated pieces such as Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” and Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.”

Her family moved to Orr’s Island in the late 1960’s. Janet was a dedicated hockey and soccer Mom, and spent countless hours on the road, in hockey arenas and soccer fields, supporting her three sons while they competed in youth league, high school, and men’s league games.

Janet’s varied hobbies included cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and biking. She loved playing and watching competitive tennis and golf. Jan enjoyed various forms of crafts and was an accomplished seamstress and cross-stitcher. She also had a home business selling her unique “Island Maidens,” handcrafted dolls that were individual works of art sold at craft fairs throughout New

England. Jan had a talent for interior decoration and design.

She was a past member of the Orr’s Island Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary and the Harpswell Board of Appeals. Over the years she worked at L.L. Bean, and at several private businesses in the local area. Her last job was providing assistance to the elderly in the Brunswick area as a caretaker for Neighbors, Inc. Janet was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother with a network of lifelong friends across the country — many close relationships spanning 70 or more years.

She is survived by her three sons, John E. Sylvester III of Pensacola, FL, William E Sylvester of Pensacola, FL, Robert B. Sylvester of Orr’s Island; a daughter, Jennifer S. Sylvester of FL and NH; nine grandchildren and one greatgrandson.

A Catholic Mass will be held in her honor at the St. Katharine Drexel Summer Chapel, Mountain Road, Harpswell. Interment and a memorial celebrating her life will be held at the Orr’s Island Cemetery. Announcements with the date will be provided in the near future to extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.