Janet Ann Mailloux
January 5, 1932 –
Janet Ann “Jan” (Owen) Mailloux of Sun City Center, FL, passed away peacefully in Boston, MA, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at the age of 91.
Jan was born on Jan. 5, 1932, in Edgewater, NJ, across the Hudson River from Manhattan and near the George Washington Bridge. Growing up, she was surrounded by family. Jan and her parents lived in the second-floor apartment of the house in which her father had been born. Her paternal grandfather, Ulysess S. Grant Owen, lived in the first-floor apartment. Many of Jan’s earliest and happiest memories were formed while spending time at her maternal grandparents’ home, which was six blocks away.
Janet was a 1948 graduate of the Dwight Morrow High School, Englewood, NJ, at age 16, having skipped the fifth grade. She then attended the two-year Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in Manhattan where she learned typing, shorthand, punctuation and the social skills expected of professional women of the day. Her first job after graduating was with American Airlines as secretary to the regional personnel manager who hired stewardesses for the eastern U.S. and Canada. On Sept. 30, 1951, at age 19, Janet received her Certificate of Membership in the American Airlines Sky Cradle Club for completing her first round-trip flight from New York to Washington.
For the next few years, Jan enjoyed the single life in Manhattan, eventually becoming “semi-engaged” to a U.S. Air Force Cadet while also dating the makeup man for the Johnny Carson show. Then on Saturday, March 15, 1954, she went on a blind date with a Korean War veteran named Paul Mailloux, a senior at Montclair State College attending on the GI Bill.
Despite the date being a comedy of errors, they saw each other the next day and three more times that week. Then on Saturday, one week after their first date, at a scenic overlook on the Henry Hudson Parkway, Paul gave Jan his fraternity pin and proposed. They were married in February 1955.
For the following 12 years, Jan was a loving, stay-at-home mother. When her sons became Boy Scouts, Jan became a Den Mother. She baked for school fund-raisers, made Halloween costumes, sewed and gardened. She was especially proud of the climbing red roses that covered the side of the family home. When her three sons were all in school, Jan began working as a secretary at Ronson Corporation and attended college in the evenings, studying elementary education. Upon graduating Magna Cum Laude from Kean College of New Jersey in 1971, Janet became an elementary school teacher specializing in reading.
When Janet retired, she relocated from Pocono Summit, PA, to Ellenton, FL, and eventually to the King’s Point community in Sun City Center, next to her dear friend and “evil twin” Marie Davin. There she served several years as president of the Gloucester L Condominium Association, secretary and active member of the Italian Club and event coordinator of the Sociable Solos Club. Jan was especially proud of her involvement with the King’s Point Water Rhythms synchronized swimming club, enjoying performing and spending time with the good friends that she had made. Jan also volunteered at the King’s Point Clubhouse library, the Condominium Owners Association (COA) and at LifePath Hospice in Sun City Center. When home, Jan enjoyed reading (especially James Patterson), writing, gardening and (easily) completing the daily crossword and Word Jumble.
Jan is preceded in death by her parents, Frederick Burr and Lilian Mae (Cannock) Owen; her husband, Paul A. Mailloux; her sons, Paul A. “Skip” Mailloux II and Eric J. Mailloux; brother, Richard S. Owen; and her second husband, John W. “Jack” Downey. She is survived by her son and friend, Gregory P. Mailloux; daughter-in-law, Kathleen “Kate” (Walsh) Mailloux; brother-in-law, Maurice Mailloux; grandchildren, Eric J. (and Samantha) Mailloux II and Danielle K. (and Brian) Smith; her great-grandchildren and numerous cousins.
Internment of Jan’s ashes will take place at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, Florida, and at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to VNA Care of Boston Hospice at
Jan was born on Jan. 5, 1932, in Edgewater, NJ, across the Hudson River from Manhattan and near the George Washington Bridge. Growing up, she was surrounded by family. Jan and her parents lived in the second-floor apartment of the house in which her father had been born. Her paternal grandfather, Ulysess S. Grant Owen, lived in the first-floor apartment. Many of Jan’s earliest and happiest memories were formed while spending time at her maternal grandparents’ home, which was six blocks away.
Janet was a 1948 graduate of the Dwight Morrow High School, Englewood, NJ, at age 16, having skipped the fifth grade. She then attended the two-year Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in Manhattan where she learned typing, shorthand, punctuation and the social skills expected of professional women of the day. Her first job after graduating was with American Airlines as secretary to the regional personnel manager who hired stewardesses for the eastern U.S. and Canada. On Sept. 30, 1951, at age 19, Janet received her Certificate of Membership in the American Airlines Sky Cradle Club for completing her first round-trip flight from New York to Washington.
For the next few years, Jan enjoyed the single life in Manhattan, eventually becoming “semi-engaged” to a U.S. Air Force Cadet while also dating the makeup man for the Johnny Carson show. Then on Saturday, March 15, 1954, she went on a blind date with a Korean War veteran named Paul Mailloux, a senior at Montclair State College attending on the GI Bill.
Despite the date being a comedy of errors, they saw each other the next day and three more times that week. Then on Saturday, one week after their first date, at a scenic overlook on the Henry Hudson Parkway, Paul gave Jan his fraternity pin and proposed. They were married in February 1955.
For the following 12 years, Jan was a loving, stay-at-home mother. When her sons became Boy Scouts, Jan became a Den Mother. She baked for school fund-raisers, made Halloween costumes, sewed and gardened. She was especially proud of the climbing red roses that covered the side of the family home. When her three sons were all in school, Jan began working as a secretary at Ronson Corporation and attended college in the evenings, studying elementary education. Upon graduating Magna Cum Laude from Kean College of New Jersey in 1971, Janet became an elementary school teacher specializing in reading.
When Janet retired, she relocated from Pocono Summit, PA, to Ellenton, FL, and eventually to the King’s Point community in Sun City Center, next to her dear friend and “evil twin” Marie Davin. There she served several years as president of the Gloucester L Condominium Association, secretary and active member of the Italian Club and event coordinator of the Sociable Solos Club. Jan was especially proud of her involvement with the King’s Point Water Rhythms synchronized swimming club, enjoying performing and spending time with the good friends that she had made. Jan also volunteered at the King’s Point Clubhouse library, the Condominium Owners Association (COA) and at LifePath Hospice in Sun City Center. When home, Jan enjoyed reading (especially James Patterson), writing, gardening and (easily) completing the daily crossword and Word Jumble.
Jan is preceded in death by her parents, Frederick Burr and Lilian Mae (Cannock) Owen; her husband, Paul A. Mailloux; her sons, Paul A. “Skip” Mailloux II and Eric J. Mailloux; brother, Richard S. Owen; and her second husband, John W. “Jack” Downey. She is survived by her son and friend, Gregory P. Mailloux; daughter-in-law, Kathleen “Kate” (Walsh) Mailloux; brother-in-law, Maurice Mailloux; grandchildren, Eric J. (and Samantha) Mailloux II and Danielle K. (and Brian) Smith; her great-grandchildren and numerous cousins.
Internment of Jan’s ashes will take place at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, Florida, and at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her honor to VNA Care of Boston Hospice at