Janet Tennant Heslink
Janet Tennant Heslink
Janet Tennant Heslink, 75, of North Clymer, NY, died at home frompancreatic cancer on Sunday, December 1, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Janet was born January 8, 1949, in Cortland, NY, daughter of the late Walter J. Tennant, Sr. and Ruth (Redfield) Tennant. Janet grew up in Cortland, NY, spending summers on Skaneateles Lake. She received her BA from the University at Buffalo, where she met her husband, Dennis (she was thrilled when her grandson, Will, decided to follow in their footsteps and attend UB). They were married after graduating, in June 1971, and Dennis’ Air Force career took them first to Texas, then Enid, OK, before coming back to Clymer.
A longtime teacher, Janet taught at both Clymer Central School and Sherman Central School. She also worked as a reference librarian at the Prendergast Library in Jamestown. Janet had many interests and hobbies. She painted, swam, sewed, quilted, and practiced all the needle arts (crocheting, knitting, embroidery), sharing many of these talents in her years volunteering with 4-H. Through the years, she made and gifted baby blankets, sweaters, hats scarves, quilts, clothes, toys, ornaments and jams (known by her grandchildren as “Gram jam”) that are cherished to this day. She could, and did, do almost anything, from mending all the knees in her grandson’s jeans when he had a sharp-kneed period, through refinishing all the woodwork in her home, to remodeling bathrooms and laying hardwoodfloors (the latter together with her husband, Dennis). She loved to read, to learn, and to travel – always reminding her students that knowing even a few words in the local language could be helpful. She took advantage of her daughter’s Foreign Service postings (and her niece’s career with theNational Park Service) to visit some places not on everyone’s list (though they should be) such as Chisinau, Moldova; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kyiv,Ukraine; as well as some that are, such as Budapest, Hungary; Athens, Greece; the U.S Virgin Islands, and many, many beautiful National Parks. She was a faithful member of her church and community, contributing in any way needed – teaching Sunday School, singing in choir, working with the Clymer Historical Society, and serving as an EMT with the VolunteerFire Department. Her many virtues made her friends wherever she went, and her friendships lasted a lifetime.
Janet is survived by her husband, Dennis W. Heslink; her daughter, Kristen Heslink-Purcell (Alan), of Tbilisi, Georgia; her son, Nathan (Christina)Heslink, of Alexandria, VA; grandchildren: William and Anne Purcell and Cordelia and Penelope Heslink; a brother, Philip (Diane) Tennant, ofCortland, NY; a sister, Grace (late Roger) Schneckenburger, of Rochester, NY; and numerous and deeply loved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great nieces and great-great nephews.
Besides her parents, Janet is predeceased by her brother, Walter John Tennant, Jr. (Late Elvira).
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Janet’s memory may be made to: The Carter Center (cartercenter.org), the World Central Kitchen(donate.wck.org) or the First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown Food Pantry (firstpresjamestown.com).
Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church ofJamestown, 509 Prendergast Ave., Jamestown, NY, Saturday December 14, 2024, at 4pm, followed by a reception.