Janet Lee (Ostaszewski) Katsarakes, age 79, passed away surrounded by her loving daughters on January 7, 2023, after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Daniel Peter Katsarakes of Peabody and Lynn, MA with whom she shared 59 years of marriage.

Born in Medford, MA on October 3,1943, Janet was the daughter of the late Alfred and Cheska (Petkiewich) Ostaszewski. She was raised in Somerville and graduated from Sacred Heart in Cambridge, MA. Janet then trained and worked as a cytologist at Tufts University Medical Center in Boston. Throughout her life, she was very proud to share the fact that she was on early pioneering medical teams that studied cancer and pap smear testing. After taking some time off to raise her family, she began a second career as a manager for Revlon as a cosmetics representative. Following her retirement, she and her family opened a restaurant called Oliver’s Delicious Food in Middleton, MA. Many of the recipes used at the restaurant came from Janet’s own kitchen. However, her favorite job of all was being mother to her two girls and Babchi to her beautiful grandchildren. She loved and embraced every moment with them and made their lives magical.

Throughout her life, Janet was an amazing artist and filled the world around her with her creativity and inspiration. Whether it was through her beautiful oil paintings, fashion and costume design or simply decorating a birthday cake for her grandchildren, everything Janet created was magnificent. Not many people know this, but Janet was also very musically talented. She taught her daughters how to sing and harmonize and could play a mean accordion! From the age of six, she was playing Polkas live on the radio.

Janet was a proud member of the St. Vasilios Church. She converted to the Greek Orthodox Faith when she married Danny in 1963. She was a Sunday School teacher at St. Val’s for 30 years. Janet was also very proud of her Polish heritage and volunteered with the Ladies Auxiliary Chapter of the St. Michael’s Society for many years. Besides embracing her roles as a loving wife, as well as mom, aunt and grandmother to her immediate and extended family, Janet was most known as a kind and loving soul who never had a bad word to say about anyone.

Janet is survived by her loving children, Catherine (Katsarakes) and Michael Geomelos of Peabody and Tracy (Katsarakes) and Chris Gangi of Middleton and her grandchildren: Geena, Toni and Danny Gangi and Janet and Deana Geomelos. She is happily reunited with the love of her life, Danny, and her beloved granddaughter Tessa Geomelos in heaven.

Janet’s funeral will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 9:00 am at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by her funeral service at 10:00 am at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, Paleologos St., Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Lake St., Peabody, MA.