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Condolences:
Nora van der Eijk
I met Janet about 60 years ago when she lived for 6 weeks with me and my family in Amsterdam and a week in Grouw in a sailing camp. In 1968 i stayed a couple of weeks with Janet and her family in New York, where I also met Steve..and
Kathy L Ball
Picture of Janet at the YMCA Line Dancing can be found in her email. Thank You, Kathy Ball
Kathy L Ball
Janet's Family: Janet was in my line dancing class at the YMCA. She was a wonderful person and we became fast friends in class. She told me that the only thing that worked for her was her feet and she wanted to use them as long as possible. She was an excellent line dancer and could remember every step. I remember teaching a line dance in French and she interpreted it for the class. Loved her spunk and determination! She gave up coming to class and soon was in a wheel chair! She will be missed. I have a picture that I want to send and hope that you receive it in this note of condolences. Kathy Ball, Instructor YMCA
Heather Spivey
My condolences to the family. I was only with her for 1 day and you could tell what a beautiful inspiration she was thru her life. Her body is Healed and she is singing with the angels. My prayers to the family that you may comfort and peace with God.
Stephanie Chalk Scanlon
So sorry I wasn't able to spend able to spend more time with cousin Janet and gotten to know her better. She achieved remarkable accomplishments and led a full life. Wish I could have heard her sing! Sincere condolences to all of her family.
Joe Freiberg
Many great memories of Janet and her family and the times we spent together when she livid in Charlotte.
Kathy Helton
Janet touched the lives of so many people and will be greatly missed.
Kathy Helton
Janet was such a joy and inspiration to know since I moved to the area. We met regularly for our French group, even after she was diagnosed. She was so positive and valiant in her fight against the disease.
Marilyn
I know Janet will be missed by many. I so enjoyed our Singing Sisters in Cypress Landing. Her passing hit me especially as Janet is my second very good friend lost to the devastating disease of ALS. Sending my prayers for love and strength to her family.
Beth
Vicky Chalk
Janet's mom and my dad were brother and sister, and although we didn't live that many miles apart (Nutley, NJ to Baldwin, NY), we didn't see each other often enough. Neither family liked driving on the roads of the other's state. I do recall her family visiting mine a few times, and remember my older cousin trying to teach me French. Ever the perfectionist, she was quick to correct me if I used "la" instead of "le" in front of a noun. I believe she was a good teacher, because when I finally took French in school, I was very careful to pronounce everything properly. My other stand-out memory was how kind and patient both she and Aunt Eileen were to me when I tried to do a sleepover at their house and I got very homesick. I'm sure I was a pain to them, but they tried hard to make me feel comfortable. I'm sorry our paths didn't cross more often. She was a special person.
Joanne Broderick
I was a neighbor and friend to Janet for many years in Cypress Landing. We had many good times together, playing golf and just hanging out. This is a terrible illness but I've been amazed how positive Janet was to the very end.She will be missed by her wonderful family her husband Steve and many friends.I wish she could have enjoyed her time in Amelia Island a little longer as she was so excited to be moving there.With deepest sympathy, Joanne
Janet Goff Neckyfarow
2024-12-16
Janet Goff Neckyfarow, 75, of Fernandina Beach, FL, passed away on December 16th from complications from ALS.
Janet was born December 15, 1949 in Rockville Centre, NY and grew up in Baldwin, NY, the daughter of Joseph Henry Goff and Eileen Chalk Goff.
In 1968, Janet graduated from Baldwin High School, then went on to SUNY Albany, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1972 with a B.A. in French. She received her M.Ed. from UNC Charlotte in Teaching English as a Second Language in 1994.
Janet married Steven Neckyfarow of Watertown, MA on September 4, 1971 at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church in Roosevelt, NY. Throughout their marriage they lived in Troy, NY, Sayre, PA, Charlotte, NC, Chocowinity, NC, and moved to Fernandina Beach, FL on Amelia Island in the Spring of 2022.
A lover of language and culture, Janet worked as a teacher of French, Spanish and ESL at schools in Elmira, NY, Charlotte, NC, and Beaufort County, NC. She taught ESL at UNC Charlotte and HIAS in Charlotte, NC. She also volunteered as a translator for immigrant communities at Eagle’s Wings Pantry in Washington, NC.
Janet was a gifted singer and musician and loved sewing and crafts, especially making quilts for her loved ones. She enjoyed playing golf for many years with her husband and the women of Cypress Landing Golf Club. She traveled through school and exchange programs to Amsterdam, Holland and Nice, France – even getting engaged to Steven by Air Mail – and took many trips and cruises with her husband including to Tahiti, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and South America.
Despite her ALS diagnosis in 2022, Janet was unfailingly positive, always trying focus on what she could do, rather than what she had lost. She stayed active while she could by taking walks on the beach and with line dancing at the MacArthur Family YMCA. She enjoyed time with local friends in a book club and French conversation group, even when she could no longer speak verbally.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Eileen Goff, and is survived by her husband of 53 years, Steven Neckyfarow, daughters Jennifer Willis (Kyle Willis), Natalie Neckyfarow, and Karen Haynes (Tim Haynes), grandchildren Sarah Wright (Dan Wright), Weylin Dubé, and Cyrus Haynes, great-grandchildren Aiden Neckyfarow-Osborne and Fletcher Wright, sister Pamela Rockett, and nieces and nephews who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.
Funeral mass will be held January 11, 2025 at 11 am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Fernandina Beach, FL, with Rev. Eric Stelzer officiating. There will be a reception following in the Parish Hall.
Memorial donations in Janet’s memory may be directed to the ALS Association (www.als.org).
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