Janet Gelow

Janet Lyle Gelow a loving wife, mother and nana was on her way with her husband to see the SF Giants on April 27, when she was taken too soon.

She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Mark Gelow, children Chelsey Holdsworth, 33 (Lance) and Ryan Gelow, 30 (Holly) and granddaughters Charlotte, 4 and Noelle Holdsworth, 1.

She is also survived by her father, Gene Lyle, 92 (Barbara), brothers Ed (Sue), Ken (Debbie), and sister Patty Moak (Bill), along with their families including numerous nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

Her large extended family included her Mother-in-law, Sonja Gelow, 78, brother-in-law Jeff (Vicki), sister-in-law’s Diana Cybulski (Mike), Julie Jeffery (James) and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She will be joining her mother, Dorothy, brother, Aubrey, and father-in-law, Melvin, in Heaven.

Janet loved her family more than anything and approached parenting and friendship with a selfless approach, providing unconditional support, love, and laughter in good times and bad. She was fierce at keeping her family safe, strong and together.

Often, the detail that she took with her family included sending care packages to relatives out of town, stocking her house full of goodies for her granddaughters, and decorating the house for every holiday.

Janet loved to entertain friends and family in their Napa home. She hosted many family gatherings and always made extra cornflake potatoes to pass out for family to take home, since she knew they would love that. She was always thoughtful and caring to ensure everyone felt welcome and loved.

She was a member of the Napa Valley tennis community, the Napa Valley Country Club, and volunteer at the Napa Valley Welcome Center.

She also stayed in close contact with friends from high school, regularly vacationed with “The Sea Ranch Beauties,” and enjoyed long getaway weekends to the family home in Graeagle.

On September 28, 1959, in Vallejo, CA, Gene and Dorothy welcomed Janet Ileen Lyle into their lives as the last of five.

Janet graduated from Napa High School, class of 1977, completed Napa Beauty College, and worked as a hairdresser for several years.

Janet and Mark were married November 22, 1980, on Cal Big Game day (Cal won).

Janet made an occupation out of complementing her husband, Mark, where he worked and she ran the household. They were strongest together, being each other’s partner and together, they made friends wherever they went.

She took great pride in raising her children, and when they became independent enough, she took up the hobbies of tennis and golf. Her caring extended to helping out with her granddaughters and taking the lead in the care for her aging father and stepmother.

Being approachable, nice and polite, with a great smile, were only some of Janet’s best qualities. She always had a tremendous, positive energy in whatever she was doing.

She will be greatly missed.

The funeral Mass will be held at St. Apollinaris Catholic Church in Napa, 11 a.m., Friday, May 6.

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