Shirley (Krauss) Janocha, 91, of Tewksbury, MA passed away peacefully on September 25, 2026.
Born in Lowell, MA, on November 18, 1934, she was the beloved daughter of the late Bertha M. (MacNicholl) Krauss and the late Arthur L. Krauss. She was raised and educated in the Lowell area.
Shirley graduated from Boston College with a degree in nursing. She worked for many years as a nurse at Lowell General Hospital and a nursing instructor at Tewksbury State Hospital.
She was the widow of the late John J. Janocha, with whom she shared 62 years of marriage, prior to his passing.
The two met while commuting from Lowell to Boston on the train during her college days. He was the love of her life and future husband. She and John married August 27, 1960. They moved to Tewksbury, where they raised their family. They enjoyed spending their summers at their cottage on Great East Lake in Wakefield, NH.
Shirley was a woman of faith. Her love for church and her spiritual life were an important part of who she was. She found comfort, strength, and purpose in her faith, and she carried that spirituality with her through life’s joys and challenges. Her love for the church reflected the importance she placed on God, family and the values that guided her life. She understood that life is a journey, and her faith gave her the foundation to walk that journey with courage.
Shirley is survived by her sons, John A. Janocha of Tewksbury, MA and David and Kerri Janocha of North Berwick, ME; her grandchildren, Steven, Emma, Ingrid, Stephanie, and Karoline; and her great grandchildren, Knox, Axel, Huxen and Sophia.
In addition to her late husband, John J. Janocha she was also predeceased by their daughter, Marybeth Janocha Hill.
On Saturday, October 10, all are welcome to attend her funeral mass at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Polish Church, 340 High Street, Lowell. Please meet directly at the church. Procession will follow for burial at Holy Trinity Cemetery, 155 Boston Road, Lowell.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Tewksbury Funeral Home. For additional information or to offer an online condolence, please visit www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com or find us on Facebook.