Janice M. Osowiecki

Janice “Jan” Osowiecki went home to the Lord on Friday, March 22, 2024, having spent her final days surrounded by her children. A verse that brought her comfort was Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever”.

A New Year’s baby, Jan was born in Colorado Springs, CO in 1946. She graduated from Palmer High School in 1964 after marrying her high school sweetheart on senior skip day, circumventing the large formal wedding. Shortly after graduation, she traveled to Alaska to work for the summer and she was the catalyst and inspiration for her family to eventually move to Cooper Landing, Alaska where they owned and operated Sportsman’s Lodge at the confluence of the Kenai and Russian rivers. It was in Cooper Landing where she lost her first husband, met her second husband, and had her children.

Jan led an adventurous, uplifting, and generous life, always willing to do more than her share. She possessed a joyful spirit and a positive attitude that was balanced by a dry sense of humor and a quick wit. 

While raising four children she found the time to serve as the vice president of the Cooper Landing Community Club, was an officer of the Advisory School Committee, an EMT, and secretary of the Dall Homemakers. She also wrote the news column “Cooper Landing News Notes” for the Seward Phoenix Log newspaper from 1978 to 1986. Jan began working at the U.S. Postal Service in Cooper Landing, AK in 1979 and after moving to Connecticut she worked in the Terryville, Torrington, and Harwinton Post Offices before she retired in 2013.

Jan loved VW Beetles, owning several in her lifetime, crossword puzzles, reading, traveling to visit loved ones, berry picking, the Saugerties Garlic Festival, pickling jalapenos and making salsa. Her love for art and for others led her to create hand-lettered signs, programs, posters and most recently, homemade birthday cards for friends and family. She was a lifelong musician; she played the piano and the organ for Kenai Lake Baptist Church, Friendship Baptist Church, and Litchfield Hills Bible Church and her daily prayer was that it would be solely for His worship.

Preceding her in death were her parents Kenneth & Mattie Olsen, her first husband Daniel Loewecke and second husband Ludwig ‘Babe’ Osowiecki, brother Larry Olsen, and sister-in-law Joyce Olsen.

Jan leaves behind her most precious treasures, her sons, daughter, and cherished daughters-in-law Brian & Elizabeth Loewecke of Stuttgart, Jeff & Betsy Osowiecki of Thomaston, CT, Jonathan & Charlotte Osowiecki of Big Lake, AK, her daughter Beth Osowiecki of Thomaston, CT and her grandchildren Kristopher Loewecke, Kait & Chris Smith, Sam Osowiecki, Ethan, Luke, Elsie Osowiecki, and great-granddaughter Harlow Smith.

She also leaves behind her in-laws Dick & Carol Loewecke, Bob & Poe Loewecke, Roger Loewecke, Anita & Neil Levorson and Jari & Alan Posselt, Henry & Caroline Osowiecki, James & Lori Osowiecki, Greg Osowiecki Sr., Rebecca Osowiecki, many nieces, nephews as well as her church families at Litchfield Hills Bible Church and Kenai Lake Baptist Church.

A service for all family and friends will be held on Friday, March 29th at 11:00 am at New Hope Baptist Church 371 Pinewoods Rd. Torrington, CT 06790 with a repast immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Litchfield Hills Bible Church, P.O. Box 971, Torrington, CT 06790 or to Kenai Lake Baptist Church PO Box 662, Cooper Landing, AK 99572.