Janet Matthews Parr

Janet Matthews Parr, 83, of Newark, Delaware passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022, in Wilmington, Delaware, with family by her side. She was born on December 31, 1938, in Rochester, New York, to Henry Albert Matthews and Isobel Strachan Matthews. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Sandra Jean Matthews. Janet had a long and distinguished career. She was a dedicated nurse with expertise in the hospital, public health, and geriatric care fields. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. After graduation, she worked at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, in one of the first Intensive Care Units in the USA. Janet worked in public health in Rochester and in Wilmington, Delaware. She had a voracious appetite for knowledge in her chosen field and was always reading to keep up with the latest medical research. She went on to earn her Master’s degree from the University of Delaware, specializing in Gerontology. Janet worked in the State of Delaware long-term care facilities at the Governor Bacon Health Center and the Emily Bissell Hospital, retiring as the Director of Nurses. Janet loved music and was an accomplished pianist and singer. She attended Limestone Presbyterian Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir. She also enjoyed singing with the Northern Delaware Oratorio Society. She made wonderful memories with her friends in both choirs. She is survived by her two daughters, Yvonne Newman and her husband, Aidan MacKerracher, of Evergreen, CO, and Audra Bensinger of Bear, DE; grandchildren, Andrew and Jenna Bensinger and Jude Mackerracher; sister, Martha Bailey; niece, Ellen Bailey; nephews, Matthew and Andrew Bailey; cousins, Mary Bennett (Hunt, NY), Leslie Knaup (CO), Daniel Matthews (WA), Steven Matthews (NY), and Barbara Matthews (NY); and cousin-in-law, Hilda McLeod (NY). Thank you to Janet’s friends and staff at The Lorelton for their exceptional care, compassion and friendship. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 pm until 7 pm on Friday, January 21, 2022 at Limestone Presbyterian Church, 3201 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 7 pm. Face coverings will be required for all those in attendance regardless of their vaccination status. Interment will be held privately. Janet’s service will be live streamed for those that wish to attend remotely, please click here to attend the service. If desired, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Janet’s name to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, 1012 14th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005, or online by clicking here.

Janet Matthews Parr

December 31, 1938 - January 17, 2022