Janet Louise Sanderson, 72, of St. Cloud, Florida, passed away unexpectedly on June 9, 2026.

Janet walked into a room the way some people only dream of — put-together, warm, and ready to make something happen. She was the kind of woman who showed up in style, laughed with her whole self, and made you feel like the most important person there. Fun and full of life, she carried herself with genuine grace and brought energy and charm everywhere she went.

Born on September 27, 1953, in Plainfield, New Jersey, she grew up in Green Brook, New Jersey, graduated from Green Brook High School, and spent a lifetime being exactly who she was — someone people gravitated toward, trusted completely, and never forgot.

She was confident and direct in the most charming way. If you heard her begin a sentence with “I was thinking…” you learned to pay attention. What followed was usually going to cost you some time or money — and it was almost always exactly right. She wasn’t always going to tell you what you wanted to hear, and she’d let you know it was coming: “You’re not going to like what I’m about to say — but I’m going to tell you anyway.” And then she’d tell you the honest truth. And she’d be right. For her daughters specifically, she had another preface: “It’s something only a mother could tell you…” What followed was the kind of honest, loving truth that only a mother can deliver and only a daughter truly understands. People came to her with their problems because they knew she wouldn’t just sympathize — she’d solve it.

Above all else, Janet was devoted to her family. Her daughters, Jennifer and Jaclyn, were the pride and joy of her life, and her love only deepened with the arrival of her grandchildren, Danny, Matthew, and April. She celebrated every milestone, offered unwavering support through every challenge, and treasured every moment spent together. She could be found in the audience at Jennifer’s dance recitals, in the stands at Jaclyn’s sporting events, and front and center at her grandchildren’s band and chorus performances, sporting events, and school musicals, and enthusiastically shaking Metsie’s toy stick — because for Janet, showing up for the people she loved was never optional. She filled her home with the aromas of a Sunday dinner that everyone looked forward to all week, gathering her family around a table where love was always the main course. Being a mother and grandmother was not simply a role for Janet — it was her greatest purpose and her greatest joy.

She was the proud owner of The Pink Duck Gift Boutique and Love Me Slender salon in Middlesex, New Jersey, she later built a successful career in real estate, and eventually joined Andrew Corporation. Whatever the arena, she was the person people turned to — for advice, for solutions, and for the kind of straight-talking wisdom that only comes from someone who genuinely cares about getting it right.

She embraced life with enthusiasm and style. Janet loved shopping, lunch dates with family and friends, traveling, and creating lasting memories with the people she loved. She was rarely far from her cherished sister Sandy, her companion since the day she was born. The two were fixtures in each other’s lives, and if Janet was out gallivanting — which was often — Sandy was almost certainly right beside her.

A lifelong and devoted New York Mets fan, Janet didn’t just follow her team — she lived and breathed them. She could be found cheering from the stands in her jersey, watching games surrounded by family, and yelling at the coach and players what they were doing wrong. She also loved trips to the casino, where blackjack, poker, and the slots were her domain. An accomplished poker player, she won numerous tournaments over the years — and anyone who sat across the table from her quickly learned that the smile was not a tell.

Her infectious laugh, radiant smile, quick wit, and unmistakable sense of style left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kurt and Dora (Wickett) Frede of Green Brook, New Jersey, and her sister, Linda Lessner.

Janet is survived by her loving daughters, Jennifer June (Aber) Perrine of St. Cloud, Florida, and Jaclyn Ann Sanderson of St. Cloud, Florida; her sisters, Dianne Harfman of Spring Hill, Florida, Sandra O’Connor of St. Cloud, Florida, Kurt E. FredeJr. of Millsboro, Delaware, Pamela Frede of Homosassa, Florida, and Carol Lee Gettinger of Frenchtown, New Jersey; her grandsons, Danny Perrine Jr. and Matthew Perrine; her granddaughter, April Perrine; her beloved grand-furbaby, MetsieSanderson; her nieces, Tracey Rizk and Alycen DeCrescenzi; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends who will forever cherish her memory.

Though her passing leaves an immeasurable void, Janet’s legacy lives on through the family she adored, the friendships she nurtured, and the countless lives she touched with her generosity, humor, strength, and love.

We smile through our tears imagining her now — watching a Mets game, winning a poker hand with her favorite 10-2, looking beautiful as always, planning her next shopping trip or adventure, and sharing laughter with loved ones who welcomed her home.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Janet’s life during a viewing on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals in Warren, New Jersey. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Higgins, with burial immediately following at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. A livestream will be available for those who wish to join remotely.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Janet’s memory to Bound Brook United Methodist Church, a church that held special memories for her.

A memorial service in Florida will be announced at a later date.

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