Waterville-Janice Florence Lancaster Bastow, 82, passed away December 20, 2018, at Oak Grove Center after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Brunswick on February 4, 1936, the daughter of Florence (Lapointe) and Donovan Lancaster.  Jan attended Brunswick public schools, graduating from Brunswick High School in 1954.

Following graduation, she attended the University of Vermont, and Colby-Sawyer College, then transferred to the University of Maine, where she graduated in 1961. On June 24, 1961, Jan married Peter Bastow of Oakland in Orono, then they moved to East Lyme, CT where both taught in the local schools for one year. The couple returned to Maine and settled in York,

where their children, Judy and Peter, Jr. were born.

In the summer of 1969, the family moved to Cumberland Center, where they resided for 34 years. Jan was active in the Cumberland Congregational Church, UCC, was a Brownie Scout leader, and a Girl Scout coordinator. For eleven years, she was the director of her own nursery school, “The Gingerbread School”, in their home.

In 2003, Jan and Peter moved to their camp on Salmon Lake, and resided there for three seasons (spring, summer, and fall) and spent the winter months in Spring Hill, Florida. Then in 2013, they became year round residents in Winslow, where they became good friends with their neighbors.

Jan was predeceased by her husband and best friend of 57 years, Peter, and sister-in-law, Carol Lancaster. She is survived by her daughter, Judith Lafond and husband, Russell of Bellingham, Mass.; son, Peter Bastow, Jr. and husband, John Raymond-Bastow of Skowhegan; brother, Richard Lancaster of Brunswick; sister Joan Bouchard and husband, Henry of Brunswick; brother-in-law, Richard Bastow  and wife, Nancy of Auburn; grandsons, Joshua, Troy, and Sean Lafond of Bellingham, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at First Congregational Church, 7 Eustis Parkway, Waterville followed by a reception at the church. Interment will be held in the spring of 2019 at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, friends wishing may make donations to First Congregational

Church, 7 Eustis Parkway, Waterville, ME 04901

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan and Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Rd., Skowhegan