Janice D'Agostino

Janice M. D'Agostino

MILFORD - Janice Mae D'Agostino died on Friday, January 6, 2017 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium, MD.

Jan was born in Towson, MD on January 25, 1932.  She attended Towson Elementary, Towson High School and then graduated from Towson State Teacher's College (now Towson University) with a 2 year degree at the age of just 18.

Jan was a loving daughter to her parents and steadfastly devoted to her only sister Ruth.  She grew to love the arts.  She acted in many plays and studied and performed in a local ballet company.  She was married young, at age 18, to Joseph Donald Brown and together they had 4 children.  Her role as mother began at age 20, with the birth of their first child.  From 1952-1974 she put her heart into being at home and raising her children.

Jan was widowed at age 42, and quickly secured the position of Director of Volunteer Services for Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore.  In 1977, Jan married Dan D'Agostino and together they built a beautiful life together, starting in Baltimore.  They spent many weekends and summer days at their vacation homes in Ocean City, MD and Broadkill Beach, DE, where friends and family visited often.  In 1987, Jan and Dan made their permanent home in Milford after they had both retired.

She became and remained an integral part of her parish, St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, and began volunteering at Milford Memorial Hospital.  Holding the position of President of the Woman's Auxiliary Club for multiple terms, Jan remained active as a member of this group and continued to volunteer at the hospital up until just days before she died.  She always enjoyed a good book, doing puzzles, baking, Tai Chi, walking 2 miles each morning and playing bridge with dear friends.  Jan was blessed to have traveled with her husband Dan all over the world, visiting Egypt, Hong Kong, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and more.  She remained extremely close to her only sister Ruth, who also retired to Milford, and loved the time and travel they enjoyed together as well.  She was "Mimi" to her grandchildren, whom she loved and of whom she was fiercely proud.  She will be forever remembered for the countless games, songs, cards, two dollar bills, special notes, phone calls, visits to Bethany, coffee cakes, hot milk cakes, overnight stays, her welcome heart, and open arms that were always shared with them.  Her children also received all this from her and more.  She was truly the heart of the family, a guiding light, and a source of hope for all her years as "Mom".

Jan is preceded in death by her parents, Daniel T. and Ethel V. (Derrenberger) Witts, her sister Ruth V. (Witts) Ward, her first husband, Joseph D. Brown, and very recently her step-son Ronald D'Agostino, and her dear husband, Dan.

She is survived by her loving and grateful children, Daniel Brown and his wife Mary Louise, Brigid Cobbs, Kathleen Wirtz, Monica Shano and her husband John; step daughter-in-law, Janice D. Cavanaugh; step-son, Keith D'Agostino and wife Stacy; step-daughters, Donna D'Agostino, Lynn Hofferbert and husband Robert; her loving grandchildren, Katie Thomas, Matthew and Andrew Wirtz, Paige Cobbs, and Joseph, William, and Zachary Durkin - known as "the boys" - and her very first great-grandson, Mason Thomas.  She is also survived by John and Alex D'Agostino, Natalie Hofferbert, and Jack D'Agostino.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 506 Seabury Ave, Milford.  Interment will take place at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Dover at a later date.