Janet (Black) Demers

Janet (Black) Demers of Belmont May 9, 2021. Beloved wife of the late George N. "Buddy" Demers Jr.  Loving mother of  Alexander Nicholas Demers and his fiancée, Calina Ciobanu (both of Los Angeles, CA). Daughter of the late Herbert Black and Alberta (Gillis) Black. Sister of Carol Williston, Tony Black, Mary Barrett, Alberta Mosvik, Allan Black, Terrence Black, Joseph Black, Brian Black, Cathy Miller, Robert Black, Anne Marie Livingstone, John Leonard Black, and the late Herbert Black (all of Nova Scotia, Canada). Aunt, great-aunt, and cousin to a veritable army of adoring relatives both north and south of the Canadian border. 

Born and raised in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Janet was the third-born in a family of fourteen children. Before graduating from Sydney Academy in 1963, she was often busy at home, baking bread alongside her mother and doing her best to keep her younger siblings out of trouble. The former she executed to great acclaim, the latter she managed with limited success. 

At the age of nineteen, Janet moved from Cape Breton to Massachusetts, where she would later meet her future husband, Buddy. The two were married in Cambridge in 1970. Belmont would become a beloved home as their family grew to include their son, Alexander (b. 1983), and many, many life-long friends. Their home was often filled with guests, laughter, and Janet’s renowned home-cooking and baked goods. 

“Momma J” has been described as the glue that binds her family together. In 1989, she and Buddy purchased a cherished summer home in Jersey Cove, Cape Breton and began hosting an annual family reunion that continues to this day. It is in large part thanks to her grit and enormous heart that her 30 nieces and nephews and their growing families are so tightly knit.

Her legacy is one of extraordinary kindness and generosity. She will be missed by the family and friends whose hearts she touched so deeply. 

Visiting hours will be held at the Brown & Hickey Funeral Home 36 Trapelo Road, Belmont on Wednesday, May 12th from 4:00 to 6:00pm. A private funeral Mass will be held Thursday at noon, followed by a graveside service at Mount Auburn Cemetery at 1:00pm. Due to current restrictions, the funeral Mass is private, but all friends and family are welcome to attend both visiting hours and the graveside service. Covid 19 requirements are face masks and social distancing. For those unable to attend, a live stream of the Mass and the burial service will be available to watch at https://www.harborview.live/ Charitable contributions can be made to the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at www.jimmyfund.org. A memorial website has been set up at https://alexdemers0.wixsite.com/mommaj

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