Born in Pennsylvania in 1919 to Italian immigrants, Sofia Andreassi and Giuseppe Di Gannatal, Janet’s father died shortly before she was born. Janet and her four siblings, Harry Gannatal, Paul Gannatal, Anne Gannatal Stagnaro, and Elda Gannatal Sayles, were raised by their mother, Sofia.
Janet attended Wayne State University and graduated as a registered nurse from Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. She joined the US Army in January 1943 and proudly served until 1946, when she became Captain. Janet often shared stories of the extreme dangers and challenges she faced during World War II, where she served in the 830 Medical Air Evacuation Service in the Pacific Theatre. She was honored to receive several medals, including the Air Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal. Janet was an exceptional nurse who was always proud of her military service as an Army nurse.
After the war, Janet moved to the bay area and worked at French Hospital in San Francisco, where she served as a public health nursing instructor and as their clinic supervisor. One of her nursing students, Julienne Poulichet Hannak, became a close and dear lifelong friend and colleague. Janet also worked in several San Francisco and bay area hospitals as a registered nurse and for many years as the district nurse for the Orinda Union School District.
Keenly intelligent, Janet was a proverbial “force of nature.” She loved Pembroke Welsh Corgis and cherished her beloved Corgis: Charlie, Sean, and Patrick. She had impeccable taste and relished visiting antique stores and auctions. Always elegant and well-appointed, she truly appreciated life’s finer things. With her terrific sense of humor and infectious laugh, she was known and loved as a lively conversationalist. Janet was infamous for driving her T-bird convertibles to her Lake Tahoe (Homewood) cabin. She enjoyed skiing at Tahoe in her younger days, but après ski was her forte.
Although Janet never had children, she was the beloved “Aunt Janet” to many. She was a dear godmother to Melissa Stagnaro and Kimberley Hannak Donaldson. Her nephews, Allen Sayles (Kerry) and Tom Stagnaro (Ann) were very close to Janet and helped her, especially in her later years. Janet truly lived a full and remarkable life. Everyone who knew her undoubtedly has at least one great Janet story. Her memorial will be private and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to donate to your favorite charity in Janet’s name
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