ROCKPORT: Janice Ella (Dennen) Schrafft, 60, passed on peacefully Tuesday, June 19, 2007, surrounded by loved ones at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, Danvers.
Born in Gloucester on July 5, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Julia C. (Swanson) and Chester H. Dennen, Jr. Janice graduated from Gloucester High School in 1964. She married her former husband, Fred, that summer and moved to Michigan for five years; the only time she called any place but Cape Ann home.
They returned to Gloucester with their two sons, who survive their mother, Richard Tobin Schrafft, husband of Leslie, and Frederick Dale Schrafft, III, husband of Nichole. Their daughter, Amanda Elizabeth Schrafft, was born after their return to Gloucester on Janice’s 24th birthday Janice is also survived by her sisters, Christina D. Rafter, wife of William and Marjorie D. Akerley, wife of Philip, her brother, Peter H. Dennen, husband of Linda (Green). Janice is also survived by her four treasured grandsons, Kyle, Cameron, Colin and newborn Thatcher Schrafft. She also leaves seven nieces, Kimberly Martin, Jill Martin, S. Lee Zuñiga Martin, Katy Perry, Caitlin Sumner, Keeley Rafter and Michele (Studer) Sullivan, nine nephews, Robert E. Foley, W. Sanford Rafter, Nathaniel and Patrick Dennen, Michael Studer, Peter Schrafft and Brian, Barry and Daniel Brown. She is further survived by numerous grandnieces and grandnephews and has kept close ties to Nancy MacDowell, Grace Schrafft, Rosemary Schrafft Ziemba and Thomas J. Martin, III. In addition to her parents, Janice was also predeceased by her older sister, Patricia B. Martin.
Janice was known and respected by many and her life was filled with a host of friends, her love of adventure, her willingness to volunteer her time to school, church and community. Her lingering illness compromised her ability to travel and be physically active, but her spirit remained undaunted and her sense of humor never dimmed.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 in the First Congregational Church, School St., Rockport at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, c/o 10 Elm St., Danvers, MA 01923 or SeniorCare, Inc., 5 Blackburn Center, Gloucester, MA 01930