Born October 10, 1939, Janet Welch Beck died at home with her family on April 22nd, 2026 exactly where she loved to be. She had fallen ill in Venice, Florida, another of her favorite places, where she and her husband Jack wintered for 30 plus years.

“The biggest lottery you will ever win is the family you are born into” ... This was a quote Janet had jotted down in several places in their home in Saratoga Springs, NY where they moved to in 2010 after 45 years in Brockport, NY. It seems in many ways to exemplify her perspective of life.

Janet was born and raised in Corning, NY with her parents, the late Edna and Charles ‘Bucky’ Welch and her brother the late Phil Welch (Joan). Janet described her childhood as idyllic and Corning as a special, unique town. Her childhood was filled with great memories of camping trips with the Kimberly’s on Fourth Lake in the Adirondacks, ice skating at Denison Park, and learning to play all sorts of sports and outside activities with her father. We think this must have laid the groundwork for her lifelong membership in the Buffalo Bills Mafia. We also think this may be where she honed her fishing skills. She became known as the “fish whisperer” by her grandkids, for her uncanny ability to haul one in when no one else was. By the time she entered high school, Janet was into everything including chorus, band, school newspaper, library club, prom committee, cheerleading and sports. She was particularly passionate about Girl Scouting and was an ambassador and leader and that experience took her by train to places such as Wyoming and Canada.

During the beginning of her senior year of high school, she met Jack Beck, a dashing young man she would fall in love with and marry just after graduating from college. It was a love story that spanned nearly 70 years. Together they would have two children, Tom (Leona) and Nancy (John Begier) and five grandchildren, Catherine, Grayson and Chris Begier and Jack and Charlie Beck. Janet doted on them all, and they were all deemed her favorite… “favorite daughter”, “favorite middle-grandson”, “favorite son-in-law” … you get the picture.

In addition to raising their children, Janet was committed to her professional life working in education and counseling. After graduation from Elmira College, Janet taught high school English before earning her master’s in counseling and embarking on a career in counseling and administration at SUNY Brockport. Janet loved helping adults with their educational counseling needs for over 25 years. During her working career she also found time to get involved in various non-profits and regularly volunteered for various causes. One of her favorites occurred in 1979 when she volunteered as the chair of the Metals and Awards Ceremonies of the International Summer Special Olympics held in Brockport.

No one was immune to Janet’s attention, and she loved her one-on-one sessions. It often started with questions like “what makes you happy?”, “what would you like to do if you could do anything?”, “do you know how interesting you are?” and “how I can help?”. These sessions could happen any time of day, anywhere and in nearly any setting imaginable. Janet really knew how to listen and was genuine in her kindness. She knew how to make you feel special because she believed you were special. Janet wanted everyone to make sure that they too felt like they had also won the lottery.

When Janet wasn’t helping us all she could be found cheering on her beloved Buffalo Bills and NY Yankees, reading, enjoying the NY Times crossword puzzle, spending time with her children and grandkids, researching and chronicling the history of the many places Jack and she called home over the last 64 years.

Janet never wanted to be the center of attention, but she liked to be in the ‘mix’. She loved to be at the celebration, the event, the game, the party but never overstayed her welcome. Janet would tell her beloved Jack “I’m ready” and then say in her short, sweet way “G-bye, g-bye” and off they went until the next time.

We all won the lottery knowing Janet. “G-bye, g-bye” to an incredibly beautiful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.