Janet Swinehart Vea, 101, of Ft. Myers Florida, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 in her home at Shell Point Village.

Born on November 4, 1916 in Pottstown, Pa. she was the daughter of Robert and Edna Swinehart and had one sibling, Robert Douglas, now deceased.

In 1933, Janet attended Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and had a full life with long-lasting friends, playing tennis and field hockey, while studying toward an an English major. Upon graduation, Janet went to business school in Philadelphia and later worked as a secretary at Dupont and later for the Dean of Men at the West Chester State College.

Janet was married to Olaf (Bo) Vea on September 9, 1939. Subsequently, they moved to Schenectady, New York where they started their family, raising three children: Peter, Kristen and Meg. She spent 24 years as an active and passionate volunteer in Jr. League, First Reformed Church, and Schenectady Symphony Board of Directors.

Janet continued her leadership roles in charitable organizations in Erie, Pennsylvania, as President of the Garden Club as well as an Elder in the local Presbyterian Church. It was in Erie that her love for golf began to bloom, and she spent many happy days on the golf course with family and friends.

In 1976, Bo and Jan retired to Sanibel, Florida, where they resided until moving to Shell Point Village in 1996. Jan was very active at the Chapel by the Sea on Captiva, serving on the Chapel Board for 6 years and as President for two years. Additionally, her love of nature spilled over to her volunteer work in the Ding Darling National Refuge on Sanibel. You could often find Jan sharing her knowledge of birds with local visitors.

Above all, God, family, and friends were the golden threads that ran through her life, weaving a beautiful tapestry of kindness, love, caring, joy, comfort, and peace. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret (Meg) Barry and husband, Patrick, of Kennebunkport, Maine and Bluffton, South Carolina as well as her daughter-in-law, Janet Vea of Canton Michigan. Two other children, Peter and Kristen, pre-deceased Janet.

Janet is also survived by five adoring grandchildren: Tracey Zittel and husband Mark, Kerry Fish and husband Jamie, Wendy Feierfeil and husband Andy, David Barry and wife Nicole, and Elizabeth Barry. Janet is also blessed with nine great grandchildren: Brooke, Nathan, and Drew Zittel, Ethan and Addison Fish, Kaylie, Emily, and Zack Feierfeil, and Bo Barry.

A memorial service will be held at 10:15 on Thursday, December 21st, in the Chapel at the Village Church at Shell Point, Ft. Myers.

In memory of Janet, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following organizations that were important to her:

Ding Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge. One Wildlife Drive, PO Box 565, Sanibel Florida 33957, OR

Chapel by the Sea, PO Box 188 Captiva, Florida 33924.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Harvey-Engelhardt Funeral Home, Ft. Myers, Florida.

---

 Service Information