Janet Louise Barnett

Janet Louise Barnett – November 19, 1938 – May 28, 2026

Janet Louise Barnett, 87, of Boca Raton, Florida, passed away on May 28, 2026, after a long journey with advanced dementia. Born to Ethyl and Bud Smith on November 19, 1938, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Janet lived a life full of laughter, love, and an uncanny ability to make everyone around her smile, often without even trying. Janet spent her growing years in Oakridge, Tennessee, where her stepfather, James Schreyer, worked as a scientist at Union Carbide. Among other projects, he notably worked on the moon box. Janet spent her childhood summers with her beloved grandparents, Roy and Mabel Huse (Mom and Daddy Roy) and Aunt Norma and Uncle Ben Guthrie back in Indianapolis, times she always described as some of her most treasured memories. She adored her handsome big brother, Dave, and carried those early bonds of family close to her heart for the rest of her life. With her big, gorgeous brown eyes and a wit that could light up any room, Janet was voted wittiest at Oak Ridge High School, a title anyone who knew her would say she never stopped earning. A natural athlete, Janet played basketball in high school and carried her love of sports into every chapter of her life. She went on to attend East Tennessee State College, where she met Warren Koplowitz. The two married and settled in Plainfield, New Jersey, where they welcomed their first two children, Judi and Lynda. The family later moved to Miramar, Florida, where their third child, Bruce, was born. In Miramar, Janet became the kind of mom whose house was the place to be. Friends of her children loved gathering there, drawn by her warmth, her humor, and her effortless way of making everyone feel welcome. She threw herself into her kids' lives with everything she had, serving as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, coaching girls' softball, and cheering loudly from the bleachers at every sporting event her children attempted. In a time before Title IX opened doors for young women in athletics, Janet became the first commissioner of girls' softball in her community, a quiet act of pioneering that reflected who she was at her core: someone who showed up, rolled up her sleeves, and made things happen. Janet's life took many turns, and she embraced every one of them with characteristic grit and good humor. She battled and beat breast cancer. After her divorce, she reinvented herself more than once. She lived on a boat for a time. She ran a pizza and catering business. She worked at American Express, Memorial Hospital and Perry Middle School. And she assisted her son with his start up business. Through it all, she never lost her sense of fun or her devotion to the people she loved. As a young mother, Janet was deeply involved in her community, sponsoring school trips and supporting her children's activities in every way she could. Later in life, she assisted aging neighbors with errands and gave her time to the Helps ministry at Spanish River Church, delivering meals to members facing health challenges. She believed in showing up for people, plain and simple. Janet was a woman of many passions. She made the most delicious homemade fudge, a recipe that her daughters have now mastered. She was an avid bridge player who loved golf, bowling, poker, and the occasional trip to the casino. She was a devoted football fan who could hold her own in any sports conversation. For a stretch of time, she took up painting ceramics and brought the same energy to it that she brought to everything else. She loved spontaneous road trips, and her favorite was a legendary mother-daughter adventure through Colorado, covering 1,200 miles in a single week. She loved the beach, she loved dining out, she loved movies, and above all, she loved family gatherings. And gather they did. Janet and her family never once celebrated Christmas apart, a streak that reached an extraordinary 65 family celebrations. It was a point of pride, a tradition that spoke to the gravitational pull Janet had on the people who loved her. She was casual, she was fun, and she was the heart of it all. In time, Janet became a proud grandmother to Brianna Castro (Lucas), Ryan Chierico (Jenniffer), Kyle Koplowitz (Sara) and Axton Koplowitz, and a delighted great-grandmother to Liam, Kobe, Max, and Zoe Castro. She was also a cherished bonus grandma to Kayla Hohenstein, Mackenzie Ford, and Grant Ford, and a bonus great-grandma to Kaden Moseder and Brantley Carrow. Every one of them knew her love. Janet retired to Tamarac, Florida, where she lived for nearly 20 years before moving to Boca Raton in 2024. She leaves behind her three children, Judi Ford, Lynda Chierico, and Bruce Koplowitz; their spouses, Carey Ford and John Chierico, the two men in her orbit who would drop everything at a moment’s notice to respond to her needs with grace and charm; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her niece Patti Moynihan (Jon); her cousin Cathy Huse; her dear sister in law, Barbara McCoy; and countless others whose lives were brighter for having known her. Janet lived by the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." She carried that principle lightly but faithfully, not as a sermon but as a way of being. In the spirit of the parable of the talents from Matthew 25, Janet understood that success was measured not by the amount of resources one had, but by faithfulness and effort. To her, "well done, good and faithful servant" was not about grand gestures but about showing up with love, humor, and heart, day after day. The family would like to extend their appreciation to the compassionate Caregivers at both Vitas Hospice and Sunrise Senior Living Remembrance neighborhood. They are thankful for the attention and comfort provided to their beloved mom throughout her special journey. In honoring her final wishes, the family will scatter her ashes at sea in an intimate, private celebration of life in the coming months. Janet always loved the ocean, and it feels only right that she return to it. Be at peace, Mom, in God's everlasting embrace. You made us laugh, you made us better, and you made sure we were never apart at Christmas. That is quite a legacy.