My wife, Janie Dell Tuchon, 70, passed away at home in Greenville, RI, on August 13, 2026. The love of my life for 34 years, with 21 of those being married. We met in 1988 at a RI National Guard function and four years later in 1992 we began our life together.
Janie was born in Houston, Texas, and was raised in the neighboring city of Deer Park. After getting married at 17 she moved with her then husband Terry Tuchon to Anchorage, Alaska, who was stationed there for the next few years, and it was there in 1976 their first child was born, Kimberly. They moved to Terry’s home state of RI in 1978. The second child of that marriage was born in 1982 in RI, Craig. Many years later, Janie relocated to Texas for five years to spend time with her ailing widowed mother; afterwards returning to RI where she remained ever since. She was employed continuously for 46 years without ever being laid off until August 2024, after the beginning of her illness. While still healthy, her business travels took her to California, Texas, Washington DC, Germany, Costa Rica, Mexico, India, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and I was fortunate to share some of those trips with her. Her retirement officially began in 2025, which is the year she was diagnosed with cancer. When she was diagnosed I became her caregiver for the next 16 months and 13 days until her passing. Janie requested to be allowed to pass at home.
Always smiling, Janie was known for her sweetness, kindness and generosity. Even after her prognosis she always remained cheerful and forward looking, more concerned about not worrying me and others about her condition. No mushiness allowed she would say. Janie helped people in need, whether to assist in finding employment, coaching new employees, or helping people with personal hardships. She would bring gifts to people she met and became friendly with, give treats to children and biscuits to pet dogs being walked during her neighbor hood strolls, packing bags for such before heading out for a walk. Later she would do this using a walker then a wheelchair. She would bring gifts for the nurses at the hospital during her visits for infusions. Janie would treat her RI in-law parents with regular supper meals every weekend she could. While working she would send gifts to coworkers and associates throughout the U.S. and the world. After her passing I discovered other gifts she had apparently saved for future giving, so still she will be giving for time to come. Janie had a way of making people feel special and appreciated, including me.
In high school Janie played the oboe and was in the marching band, and was nicknamed Hooksum for her ability to catch fish when nobody around her were catching any. Janie had many hobbies and interests that included collecting minerals, fossils and other rocks, quilting that won ribbons at RI fairs, sewing, playing solitaire when needing to unwind from the intense pressures of her job, and listening to her favorite music by Carole King and James Taylor (especially the song Fire and Rain).
Her favorite pastimes were gardening and caring for flowers, and she had the rare trait of enjoying the pulling of weeds, which she said made her feel good. Janie also enjoyed collecting butterflies and has beautiful framed assortments of them. Her favorite sports teams were the Houston Astros and Boston Bruins, seeing them play often in person, and have personally engaged with Andy Pettitte and Bobby Orr at events. Her own pets were the outside types, birds, squirrels, chipmunks and the occasional hawks (one of her favorite birds), that came to her bird feeders that she regularly kept well stocked. She collected and read many books on birds and could name all those that visited and enjoyed telling you all about them. Janie intended to resume quilting and begin scrapbooking upon retirement and amassed a large collection of photos to do this, but her illness prevented the start of those. We enjoyed taking road trips together, often to New Jersey, Washington DC, Manhattan/NYC, and Vermont, and many with extended stays throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Janie and I enjoyed frequently visiting RI’s coastline in the off-season when it was quieter. We also shared the hobby of target shooting.
Even while dedicating a lot of time to personal relationships, she built a strong career and earned the following credentials:
Who’s Who Registry of Global Business Leaders, Distinguished Member
US Department of the Treasury, Licensed U.S. Customs Broker
American Society of Transportation and Logistics, Certified in Transportation and Logistics
The International Import-Export Institute, Certified U.S. Export Compliance Officer
The Institute of Internal Auditors, Certified Internal Auditor
Dunlop Stone University, Master of Science International Law, Regulatory Trade Compliance
University of Houston Victoria, Master of Business Administration, Finance
University of Alaska Anchorage, Bachelor of Arts, Biological Sciences
Janie began her continuous employment of 46 years in RI after spending time in Alaska working as a field biologist on the Alaska Pipeline project:
Raytheon Technologies, Global Customs Operations Compliance, Internal Audits (MA, RI)
Hewlitt-Packard Co, Senior Trade Consultant, Compliance Assurance Program Manager (TX, MA)
American Power Conversion, Senior Transportation and Logistics Analyst (RI)
Brown & Sharpe Mfg Co, Corporate Transportation and Logistics Procurement Manager (RI)
Ferguson Perforating Co, Transportation Manager (RI)
Janie’s immediate RI family includes husband Anthony Palombo, children Kimberly Tuchon-Kelley (husband Jonathan) and Craig Tuchon (wife Lorien), and grandchildren Victoria Miller-Tuchon and Izak Tuchon-Leech (Kimberly), and Abigail Tuchon and Tyler Tuchon (Craig), and her in-law parents James and Beverly Palombo. Janie also has family-ties to Texas: parents (both deceased) Robert E Lee Fox and Janie Frances Fox; siblings Peggy Wilmoth (deceased) and brother-in-law Milton Wilmoth, Robert E Lee Fox Jr (deceased) and sister-in-law Robyn Michelle Fox, Ronald Fox (deceased 6 wks old); nieces and nephews include LaTosha Faust and husband Dan, Sean Wilmoth, Trevor Wilmoth, Teresa Nygaard and husband Neal, Robert E Lee Fox III and wife Brenda Lee, Michael Fox and wife Mallory, and Amber Gardner and husband Duwayne; great nieces and nephews include Brandon Wilmoth, Brianna Wilmoth, Major Nygaard, Owen Gardner, Lochlan Gardner, Gavin Gardner, Taran Gardner, Payton Fox, Guinevere Faust, and Bennet Faust.
The last two cards Janie gave to me had the following notes:
On Valentine’s Day, “Happy Anniversary!!! I love you so much!!! I can’t imagine my life without you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for being you. I love you more than I know how to describe in words!”
And the last one, “To my husband, I’m not perfect, I’ll annoy you, piss you off, say stupid things, then take it all back. But put that all aside and you’ll never find a person who cares or loves you more than me. I can’t promise I’ll be here for the rest of your life, but I can promise I’ll love you for the rest of mine. I love you! Thank you for everything you do to make our life together the best.”
Janie requested we have a home-based party of remembrance instead of formal services. Friends, family and others that she touched will be informed of the occasion. Janie will be interred at the RI Veteran's Cemetery in Exeter.
She was a great wife, best friend, center of my life, and is very deeply missed. I love you Janie Dell and cherish all the love and memories you have given me. Sweet dreams and flying machines.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations in Janie’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice.