Janice Marie (Wilson) Plante

Janice Marie Plante (Wilson), 76, Bluffton, SC, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Savannah, GA.

Janice, known to her family and friends as Jan, was born on August 6, 1947, to Ralph and Beatrice Wilson in Pawtucket, RI.

Jan is survived by her loving husband Roger; daughter Nikki Del Pozzo (Plante); son Marc (Rebecca) Plante; four “grands” Emerson, Regan, Abdeta and Atsede; along with nieces, nephews, and numerous friends.

Jan is preceded in death by her father, mother; sisters Joan (John) Shea; Lillian (Hal) Geary; brother-in-law Rene (Sandy) Plante, sister in-law Sr. Mariette Plante, son-in-law Scott Del Pozzo and nieces and nephew.

In 1966 Jan was a student at Rhode Island College and Roger was a student at Providence College – where one of his friends set up a blind date for Jan and Roger.  Who knew that that college dance would lead to an almost 56-year long marriage full of family, love, friends, travel and laughter.

Jan and Roger were married on June 22, 1968.  When they returned from their honeymoon in VT, they packed up all their belongings in a red VW bug and set off to Roger’s first active-duty Army assignment at Fort Lee in VA.  In November 1968 Roger was transferred to Fort Devens in MA where they remained until he was sent to Vietnam, shortly before their 1st Wedding Anniversary in June of 1969.

While Roger was serving in Vietnam, Jan attended Rhode Island College and received her B.S. in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  She began her teaching career and continued in that role for a number of years.  Jan applied for, and was accepted into, a Master of Education program at Brown University.  She graduated from Brown University in 1974 with a M.S. Educ., Science Education.

She continued her teaching career until she took a position at Law School Admission Service (LSAS) in 1979.  That new position brought Jan, Roger, Nikki and Marc to Newtown, PA.  She remained at LSAS for seven years and then in 1986 accepted a position at Educational Testing Service (ETS) where she held leadership roles in test center management and new product development until she retired in 2011.

Jan and Roger loved to travel and had opportunities to visit England, Wales, Scotland, France, Canada and Aruba.  In addition to international travels, Jan and Roger also had trips all over the U.S., visiting friends and family and spending time in Sandbridge Beach, VA for many many summers.  Those summers in Sandbridge were full of family, friends, books, music, puzzles, miniature golf, wine, bologna, and provolone sandwiches and lots of laughter.

In 2013, Jan and Roger moved from Newtown, PA to Bluffton, SC.  There they met many neighbors who became friends to both.  While down in SC, Jan achieved one of her lifelong goals of becoming a Master Gardener.  She received her certification from Clemson University in 2021.

Jan was an amazing and loving wife, mother, mémè, sister, aunt, cousin and friend.  At her core she was a nurturer – a master gardener…literally and figuratively.  Whether it was her time as a teacher, leader of her work teams, master gardener, friend or her most treasured role as partner to Roger, Mom to Nikki and Marc, mother-in-law to Scott and Rebecca, or Memere to Emerson, Regan, Abdeta and Atsede.

We, her family and friends, are all her garden.  She planted her seeds of knowledge, kindness, love, support and strength.  Now she will watch over and care for us from above.  We will always love and miss her – but we are grateful she is at peace and at this very moment is probably designing and planning a beautiful garden in Heaven.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in Jan’s honor.