Janet (Gleason) Kunigonis

Janet M. (Gleason) Kunigonis, 70, a lifelong Worcester resident, passed away unexpectedly    after being stricken ill at home.

Janet was born in Worcester, one of five children of Raymond  and Mary Elizabeth “Betty” (Gannon) Gleason. Raised in the Lincoln St neighborhood of Worcester, Janet married Peter A Kunigonis on May 22^nd, 1977. They have spent the last 44 years, devoted to each other and family. Janet was a certified surgical tech for, City Hospital, Cape Cod Hospital, Framingham Union and the Umass-Memorial Healthcare system more than forty-four years. First at the Lake Ave Hospital and most recently Hahnemann Hospital surgery center.

Janet is survived by her husband and soulmate, Peter A. Kunigonis; two children, Michael P. Kunigonis and his wife Amy in Dekalb Illinois, Kelsey M. Doliber and her husband Greg of Shrewsbury; four siblings, Raymond Gleason and his wife Michelle of Leicester, Michael Gleason and his wife Angela of Rutland, Mary Gozdur and her husband David of Holden, Kevin Gleason and his wife Tracey of Spencer, two brothers-in-law, Paul Kunigonis of Worc. and Attorney John “Jack” Fisher of Shrewsbury; a granddaughter and apple of her eye, Mary Alice; Many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends, including her best friends Deb Kelly and Kathy Dowding and the “Yah, Yah Girls “, a group of friends who regularly got together and traveled with each other.     

Janet was a beautiful person , with a bright smile, huge heart and profound sense of humor who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life; spending time with family and friends, family dinners, baking, cooking for anyone who came to her home, cruising and the beaches of Hampton, Seabrook, and Cape Cod. Janet also found boundless joy painting. She genuinely believed that faith, family, and friends were the most important things in life and had room in her heart for everyone she met. She was very generous with her love, time, and resources, and helped anyone she could.

Calling hours for Janet will be held Monday, December 27^th from 4 pm to 7 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St. Her funeral will be held Tuesday, December 28^th from the funeral home with a procession to Our Lady of Providence/St Bernard church, 228 Lincoln St where her funeral Mass will be held at  10 am. Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers memorial remembrances in her name can be made to St John’s Food for the Poor, 20 Temple St Worcester.