Janet G. (Welch) Sutherland
January 13, 1946 — April 15, 2020
Janet G. (Welch) Sutherland
Janet was born on January 13, 1946 in Melrose, one of three children of the late John and Grace (Gowell) Welch. Raised in Melrose, Janet graduated from St. Mary's School, and from MassBay Community College in Boston with a business degree. On November 4, 1967, she married Thomas Sutherland and they settled in Melrose to raise a family of four children.
For over 30 years, Janet worked as a legal secretary for Sarrouf, Tarricone & Flemming in Boston. When her children were young, she was very involved at the Roosevelt School, and later worked as a Teacher's Aide at the Hoover School in Melrose for several years. In 2001, Janet purchased Sit'n Knit on West Emerson Street in Melrose. Janet was an accomplished knitter and enjoyed sharing time with her friends and neighbors socializing while also teaching knitting classes. She operated Sit'n Knit for 18 years, making many friendships until she sold the business in 2016.
Devoted to her faith, Janet was an active and dedicated parishioner of St. Mary's Church, where she served as a lector for many years, and presented marriage prep classes with husband Tom. In her free time, Janet loved to bake and travel, especially day trips to the coast of Maine, vacations to Ireland, and many trips with family to Disney World.
Janet was a generous, kind-hearted woman who shared her sweet nature with many people in Melrose and beyond. She will be greatly missed, but always remembered for her love and dedication to her husband Tom, her children, and grandchildren.
Janet was the beloved wife of the late Thomas M. Sutherland with whom she shared 46 years of marriage. Devoted mother of Christopher T. Sutherland of Melrose, Amy E. Fahy Padron and her husband Lawrence of Davenport, FL, Sarah G. Ste. Marie and her husband Michael of Melrose, and Abigail E. Gall and her husband Michael of Rowley. Dear sister of Polly Shea and her husband Dan of Medford, and Jack Welch and his wife Jean O'Toole of Melrose. Proud grandmother of Grace Elizabeth Fahy, Rory Michael Ste. Marie, Lola Reese Ste. Marie, Genevieve Elizabeth Gall, and Rosalie Margaret Gall. Caring aunt of Daniel and Kevin Shea. Predeceased by her sister-in-law, Maureen Welch, and son-in-law, Kieran Fahy.
Services for Janet will be announced in the future when all may gather to honor, remember and celebrate her life. Interment in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.
Gifts in memory of Janet may be made to St. Mary's Church, 46 Myrtle St., Melrose MA 02176.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Janet G. (Welch) Sutherland, please visit our flower store.
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