Janet R. Neal, 91, of Alpine, NY, passed away suddenly on September 10, 2025, at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, New York. A resident of Catharine, New York, since 2009, she had previously lived on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for many years.

Janet was born on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1934, and how fitting that was — a woman who seemed to burst with love, who poured it into her family, her home, and the earth she tended so well. Valentine's Day is a celebration of affection, beauty, and devotion — and Janet embodied all of that and more. With a heart that gave freely and a spirit that welcomed everyone, she lived each day as an expression of love.

Her late parents were Nicholas and Catherine Bell, and her late brother, Robert P. Bell, all of Framingham, Massachusetts, where Janet grew up and was educated.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 68 years, John Neal, and their three beloved daughters: Barbara Neal of Danby, New York (wife Sarah Davis); Elizabeth Lazor of Madison, Connecticut (husband Kenneth Lazor); and Margaret Cabezas of Catharine, New York (husband Howard Cabezas).

She leaves behind ten cherished grandchildren: Catherine Davis of Oakland, California, and her sister Lia Davis-Bellmay of Catonsville, Maryland (husband Joseph Bellmay); Dr. Kyle Floryan of Cheshire, Connecticut (wife Dr. Autumn Floryan), Jonathan Lazor of Cheshire, Connecticut, David Lazor of Madison, Connecticut, and Erik Lazor of Hermon, Maine; Hannah Capozzi, Samuel Capozzi, Henry Cabezas, and Tessabell Cabezas, all of Catharine, New York. Janet was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, August Marlan of Catharine, New York, and Roman Floryan of Cheshire, Connecticut.

She is also survived by her nephew Nicholas P. Bell of Framingham, Massachusetts (wife Elena Bell); nieces Dr. Kathleen Bell of Orono, Maine (partner Robert Lombardo) and Kristen Bell of Hopkinton, Massachusetts; and a grand-nephew, Nicholas Bell, of Framingham, Massachusetts. She also leaves her sister-in-law, Ellen Walker of Harwich, Massachusetts.

Janet attended Wilfred Academy in Boston and worked as a hairdresser for several years before marrying John in 1957. They made their home in Sudbury, Massachusetts, where they raised their family with love and devotion.

Janet had the most striking blue eyes — the kind that seemed to hold stories, laughter, and kindness all at once. She loved to grow things: her children, her flowers, her houseplants, and her relationships. With every seed she planted and every life she touched, she nurtured beauty and connection. Whether in her gardens or her kitchen, she created warmth and comfort, always giving more than she received. Indeed, at the end of her life, she gifted her organs for transplant and medical research.

She will be remembered for her laughter, warmth, quiet strength, and the deep, abiding love she carried for her family and the world around her. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the generations she helped shape.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Benedict's Church, located at 304 Speedway Rd, Odessa, NY 14869, on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 11:00 AM. All are welcome. Following the service, a reception will be held where finger sandwiches, desserts, tea, and coffee will be served in the parish hall as the family gathers with friends and loved ones to share memories and celebrate a life well lived.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), P.O. Box 5021, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5021, Online at www.breakthrought1d.org,

St. Benedict's Society, P.O. Box 289, Watkins Glen, NY, 14891, or to a charity of your choice, in honor of Janet Neal.

The family deeply appreciates the outpouring of love, support, and remembrance during this time.