Janet Higgins Fitzpatrick

AIKEN, SC - Janet Patricia Higgins Fitzpatrick (simply known as Jan to her friends and family) died at her farmhouse home in Aiken on March 19, 2023, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Janet was born on April 9, 1938, in Buffalo, New York, to parents William and Lillian Higgins. She was a 1959 graduate of Muskingum University (New Concord, Ohio) and a year later she received her certificate as a registered dietician from Cleveland’s University Hospital. Her career led her to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she worked for the Veterans Health Administration’s health care system. It was in Philadelphia that she met the love of her life, Frank A. Fitzpatrick. They were married on September 17, 1966, and soon after the couple moved to Montvale, New Jersey, where their three children were born – Shawn, Jill and Bryan. The family moved to Colts Neck, New Jersey in 1975. Janet and her best friend Barbara Golden co-owned and operated a gift shop, The Blue Goose, in Colts Neck for several years. She then worked for MUSICAM USA and retired in 2000.

In 2006 the family moved to Oriental, North Carolina, where Frank and Janet enjoyed their retirement years with outings on their boat, Fitz's Folly, and made lots of new friends. Two years after Frank’s passing in 2012, Janet and her daughter Jill moved to Aiken where they found the perfect home in Hopeland Farms with horses, dogs and cats.

Janet loved bridge, canasta, knitting, and reading. Both she and Jill were heavily involved in greyhound rescue.

Survivors include her three children: Shawn (Newark, Delaware), Jill (Aiken) and Bryan (Jackson, New Jersey) and grandsons Shane and Dylan (Toms River, New Jersey); her brother and sister-in-law Ronald and Karen Higgins (Vancouver, Washington); and many nieces, nephews and wonderful friends, both old and new. Sweet Pea, a dog that Janet adopted a year ago, misses her mom terribly. She was a wonderful companion and guard dog, never leaving Janet’s side during those final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to one of the following organizations, each one, in its own way, was especially close to Janet’s heart: Make Peace with Animals (P.O. Box 488, New Hope, PA 18938), FOTAS Aiken (333 Wire Road, Aiken, SC 29801) or PARR (PA Racehorse Rehoming – 6856 SW 70th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34476).

As was Janet’s request, no funeral or memorial service will be held.

SHELLHOUSE-RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, INC. 715 E. PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC 29803