Janice Irene (Des Rosiers) Kearley

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Janice Irene Kearley (nee Des Rosiers) passed away on April 28, 2021 at Suncoast Hospice in Clearwater Fla. Janice was born Sept. 21, 1939 in Acushnet, Mass. to Edmund and Irene (Blanchette) Des Rosiers of New Bedford, Mass.

She attended elementary school at Sacred Heart Academy in Fairhaven, Mass. and in 1957 graduated from Holy Family High School in New Bedford, Mass. After graduation Jan was employed as a lab technician at St. Lukes Hospital.

In 1958 she met and married Roland Kearley of Fairhaven, Mass. who was a career airman in the US Air Force. Jan was a military wife for 16 years and spent stateside assignments with Roland in California, Texas and Maryland (twice). Also, overseas assignments in Germany (3 yrs) and Italy (4 yrs). Following Roland’s military retirement in 1974, the family lived in West Poland, Maine. Shortly after arriving in West Poland, Jan volunteered as an EMT with the Poland Rescue. When the youngest of her three children went to school, Jan enrolled in Saint Mary’s School of Nursing and received her RN degree. She spent the majority of her nursing career working at Bridgton Hospital.

After retirement she and Roland became “snowbirds”. They spent the winters at On Top of the World in Clearwater, Fla. Here she enjoyed swimming and playing tennis. Summers were spent in Norway, Maine working in her garden, playing tennis and spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. Jan and Roland traveled extensively in and out of the country and enjoyed taking cruises, especially with the family. Jan also enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, crypto quips and Swedish weaving.

Jan is survived by her husband of 62+ years; three children, Steven (Cindy) of Milford, Mass., Richard Kearley (Suzanne Bouchard) of Norway, Maine, Roxanne Ames (George) of Waterford, Maine; her brother Ronald Des Rosiers (Anne) of Mattapoisett, Mass.; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and her furbaby Maddy. Also, several members of the Blanchette family in the New Bedford, Mass. area, who are all direct descendants of Pierre Blanchette who migrated from France to Quebec, Canada in 1668.

Janice Irene was a wonderful loving wife and mother. We note her passing with great sadness. At a later date her cremated remains will be interred in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in an above ground vault. In the future she will be joined by the cremated remains of her husband, Master Sergeant Roland Kearley, USAF Retired.