Janice R. (Blakeney) Ward

Waltham - Janice R. (Blakeney) Ward, devoted wife, beloved mother and cherished grandmother, passed away peacefully in her home on November 16, 2024. She was 77.

Janice was born on December 24th, 1946 in Newton, MA. A daughter of the late John W. and Rita M. (Desrochers) Blakeney, she was raised in Newton where she graduated from Newton High School, and later studied at The Chandler School in Boston, MA.

She enjoyed 50 years married to her husband, Henry T. Ward Jr. and was with him when he died in their home on April 27, 2018. Their love produced four children and later five grandchildren. It was perhaps the role of ‘Grammy’ that she loved the best.

Janice loved life and the people in it throughout her nearly eight decades. She dearly cherished her family and her lifelong friendships. 

She was an avid reader, and some of her favorite interests included spending time with her beloved grandchildren, playing the piano, enjoying a good card game, being a Jeopardy ringer, and the challenge of a game of Trivial Pursuit. 

She leaves her children, Henry T. Ward, III (Alejandra Hernandez) of Tempe, Arizona, Amy E. Robinson (Miles) of Bedford and Julie A. Dereshinsky (James) of Sudbury; her grandchildren, Sebastian Ward, Jadyn and Max Robinson and Simon and Maeve Dereshinsky; her siblings, John Blakeney (Ruth) of Auburndale, Susan Curtin (Robert) of Needham, Richard Blakeney (Josie Gonzalez) of Freemont, California; her in-laws, William Paul of Waltham, Carole McNamara of Chestnut Hill, Paul Ward of Plymouth, Richard Ward of Boca Raton, Florida, and Kathy Prescott of Easton and many nieces and nephews.

Janice was also the mother of the late Jeffrey A. Ward and sister of the late Jean Paul.

Family and friends will honor and remember Janice's life by gathering for an evening wake in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, November 21st from 4 to 7 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 573 Washington Street, Newton where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA 02445 or https://www.jimmyfund.org/