Janice Ware Irwin, formerly of Westfield, N.J., went to be with her Lord on Thursday, April 28, 2011, in Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge, N.J.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Fellowship Village, 8000 Fellowship Drive, Basking Ridge, N.J. 07920. Interment will be alongside her husband in the Revolutionary Cemetery on Mountain Avenue in Westfield, N.J., in a private ceremony. Expressions of sympathy may be sent care of Gallaway & Crane, 101 S. Finley Ave., Basking Ridge, N.J. 07920.

Janice Elizabeth Ware was born on May 7, 1919, in Orange, N.J., and grew up in Maplewood. N.J. and Millburn, N.J. She attended Centenary College and graduated from New Jersey College for Women (now Douglass College) in 1942 with a bachelors of arts in music.

After her marriage to William Irwin in November 1945, they resided in Westfield, N.J., where they raised their four sons. In 1996, they moved to Fellowship Village.

Her father’s family heritage goes back to furniture maker John Smith Ware of Bridgeton, N.J., who was famous for the “Ware Chair,” and her mother’s heritage goes back to Isaac Lambert of Raritan Avenue, for whom Lambert’s Mill Road of Westfield and Scotch Plains, N.J., is named. The family church is now known as Willow Grove Presbyterian Church. Isaac Lambert was famous for the truck farm that provided passage for immigrants from Europe in exchange for a year’s work on the farm.

Janice Irwin was a loving wife, kind sister, dedicated mother, wonderful mother-in-law, caring grand- and great-grandmother, and devout Christian.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 56 years William Irwin, and her brother, John S. Ware III.

She is survived by her brother, Malcolm D. Ware, and his wife, Marjorie; by her sister-in-law, Ruth Ware, and by her four sons and their families: William John “Jack” Irwin II of Valencia, Calif.; Douglas Lambert Irwin of Middletown, N.J.; Charles Fraser Irwin of Guilford, Conn., and David Ware Irwin of Readington Township, N.J. Janice regarded her four daughters-in-law as special “daughters” and took great pride in her 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She enjoyed sailing at Raritan Yacht Club and at Brant Beach Yacht Club and spending many summers on Long Beach Island with her family.

During her 50-plus years as a member of the Westfield Presbyterian Church of Westfield, Janice served as a Sunday School teacher and on many church committees.

Music was always a great joy to her and her family. She was an active member and officer in the Choral Arts Society in Westfield. She taught piano for many years and accompanied the chorus and worship services at Fellowship Village. Janice also played the violin and with husband Bill and his cello was a member of the Summit Community Orchestra.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Janice’s honor be made to the Janice Irwin Music Memorial at The Westfield Presbyterian Church, 140 Mountain Ave., Westfield, N.J. 07090-3131.

Source:  Star-Ledger, The (Newark, NJ) – Thursday, May 12, 2011