Janet Galen O’Connor

POLAND – Janet Galen O’Connor, R.N., resident of Poland, passed away at her home on Monday, March 23, 2026. She was born in Bangor on Nov. 26, 1931, the daughter of Charles Oliver O’Connor and Gertrude Florence (Knaide) O’Connor.

She often shared stories of her childhood, living with her immediate and extended family at 7 Division St. She was doted on by her grandfather, Calvin Francis Knaide Jr., Chief, Bangor Police Department; her uncle Capt. Calvin Knaide II and his three children; and her maternal aunts, Mame and Ethel.

Janet attended Bangor public schools and graduated from John Bapst High School. She continued her education at the University of Maine Orono/Eastern Maine General School of Nursing where she earned a Baccalaureate in Nursing.

Janet met her husband, Dr. Philip John Dean, M.D. at the New England Medical Center Hospital in Boston, Mass. while he was at Tufts Medical School.

They married in Holyoke in June 1955 and Phil began his 23-year career in the U.S. Navy – first moving to California and then living in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland while raising nine children. All the children played sports, and she could be seen at multiple events in one day, leading one parent to ask if there was more than one of her.

Janet returned to work as her children grew older, choosing psychiatric nursing and working at The Chestnut Lodge in Rockville, Md. When returning to Bangor she was the managing director of Hope House, a facility for recovering alcoholics. She took great pride in her work bringing facilities in line with regulatory protocols, often heard coaching staff, “if you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen”, “look forward, glance back” and “keep your mind where your body is”.

In retirement, Janet began an antiques business with her husband, Paul Tillson, with a shop in Oxford. They traveled up and down the east coast attending shows and making new friends.

Janet was an enthusiastic reader, solved crossword puzzles, kept a gem of a garden and was always ready for a discussion about politics. When she returned to Maine, she took up sailing in her 27 foot O’Day Outlaw named Papillon – mooring it in Blue Hill, saying, “I didn’t know any better, I just wanted to go sailing so I bought a boat”. She prayed twice daily to Saint Jude for the lucky list of those she loved.

Janet is survived by her loving children, Mary-Jude Dean and her husband Sheldon Rosenberg, CPA of Newton, Mass., Dr. Philip J. Dean, M.D. and his wife Mary Dean, R.N. of Shrewsbury, Mass., Thomas J. Dean, CPA and his wife Teresa Dean of Poland, Dr. Anne V. Dean, M.D. and her partner Dr. Jack Kennell, Prof. Emeritus of Falmouth, Carolyn F. Dean, CRNA, and her husband Dr. Lonny Green, M.D. of Richmond, Va., Margaret K. Dean, R.N. and her husband Jerry Gross of Santa Barbara, Calif, Elizabeth K. Dean, R.N. of Marston Mills, Mass., and Catherine G. Dean and her husband Michael Dodge of Amherst, N.H.

Janet was the proud grandmother of Philip and Knaide Rosenberg, Philip, Timothy and Connor Dean, Kathleen Dean, Galen, Stenzler, Thomas, Knaide, Quinn and Mannix Green, Devlin Dean, Roisin Gross, Joseph Dean, Simonne, Michael, Philip and Jake Dodge, Janet’s granddaughters-in-law Terese Dean, Karina Carabantes- Rosenberg and Monica Dean. She was also a great-grandmother to Alexandra and Philip Dean.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Philip J. Dean; her son, John Patrick Dean; and her sister, Joanne Lancaster.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 20 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Auburn, at 11 a.m.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Home and Cremation Servia 26 W. Dwinal St., Mechanic Falls. To make an online condolence please visit http://www.chandlerfuenrals.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Prince of Peace Parish at https://princeofpeace.me/basilica-heritage-donations. Janet attended the public veneration of a relic of Saint Jude, the Apostle of the Impossible at the Basilica when the relic was on pilgrimage in November 2023.