Janet Lee Shaughnessy

Janet Lee Shaughnessy passed away surrounded by family and friends on Saturday, August 20, 2018 in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the age of 65. Born on March 28, 1953 in Norwood, MA, she was the daughter of Leo V. Shaughnessy and Julia A. (Flagg) Shaughnessy.  Cherished sister of the late Arthur F. “Skip” Shaughnessy, Judith A. Cady of Plymouth, MA, Charles S. Shaughnessy of Barefoot Bay, FL, Jean M. Shaughnessy of Taunton, MA and Stephen P. Shaughnessy of Webster, MA and is survived by many loving nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Janet was raised in Walpole, MA and graduated from Walpole High School with the Class of 1971. She moved to California accepting a position with The National Park Service at Yosemite.  In her early 30’s she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which our brother Skip had succumbed to at 27 years of age.  She returned home to MA for treatment involving radiation and chemotherapy.  She made a full recovery and stayed in MA for a few years and worked at Northeastern University in Boston.  She then moved on to Salt Lake City, Utah accepting a position with the Utah Arts Council where she visited outlying areas to help artists market their work.  In time she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to work for Indian Artist Magazine, which she always said was her favorite job.  She wrote content for the magazine and interacted with Native artists, something she was truly passionate about.  Do you see a pattern here?  Janet definitely needed a challenge.  Staying in the same local was not her way. 

In time the magazine closed and Janet moved to Cape Cod, MA to accept a grant writing position with Plimoth Plantation.  At this time she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She had surgery and once again went through chemotherapy treatment and once again made a complete recovery.  After a few years at Plymouth Plantation, she decided to get serious about her own art and focus on that exclusively.  Her talent grew in leaps and bounds.  She loved gardening and made her yard on the Cape an oasis which friends and family loved to visit.  The Cape Cod winters became too harsh so she decided to return to Santa Fe, New Mexico to retire where she unfortunately fell ill soon after.  She was diagnosed with advanced endometrial cancer.  Going through harsh cancer treatments did not deter her from renovating her new condo in Santa Fe and planting a beautiful garden in her courtyard.  Janet fought until the very end which came a year from the time of her initial diagnosis.  It is difficult to understand why one person would have to endure so many illnesses. We can only be grateful that she will not have to suffer any longer. 

She leaves behind her two beloved dogs, Chloe and Alice Bean, and many longtime faithful friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Janet’s Life Celebration on Saturday, June 15, 2019 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole, MA 02081. Interment will be private at the request of Janet’s family.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the non-profit farm that adopted Chloe and Alice Bean, Janet's fur babies: 

In Good Company
P.O. Box 45
Rowe, NM 87562-0045
Attn:  Jennifer Williams