TORRINGTON – Janice (Gabelmann) Southworth, 79, of Torrington, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2024. Throughout her life, she taught us how to focus on the values of family.
Jan was born in Winsted on July 3, 1944, to the late Charles and Clara (Parsons) Gabelmann. She graduated from The Gilbert School and for many years helped organize the reunions for her class. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Central Connecticut State University.
In her career, Jan advanced from a bank teller to a vice president at Northwest Community Bank. She was a member and at one time the president of the Junior Women’s Club.
Jan was a very creative person and enjoyed ceramics, stamping, knitting, crocheting, and also swimming. She made wonderful blankets for her family, always making sure to make one for each child, and even crocheted a “zoo” of animals for the children.
She loved spending time with her family. Her eyes lit up when her grandchildren or great-grandchildren were visiting. She enjoyed doing crafts, reading, word puzzles, or tablet games with the children, and on occasion would read books to children at the school.
She had many lifelong friends, including letters with a pen pal in England that began in grade school. She also had a love for dogs ever since her parents bought her a dog as a companion, especially for her recent Sheltie, Cody.
Jan is survived by her loving husband, Winthrop, of 59 wonderful years. She leaves behind her children: Catharine Schaer and husband William of Torrington; her son, Jeffrey Southworth and wife Charlene of Winsted; a brother Maurice “Mo” Gabelmann of Winsted; and sister-in-law, Gloria Gabelmann of Winsted.
She leaves five grandchildren, William Jr., Christopher, Alex, Aiden, and Kate; and five great-grandchildren, Teagan, Sawyer, Noah, Clara and Camryn; as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by a brother, Charles Gabelmann Jr., and sister-in-law Carol Gabelmann.
The Montano-Shea Funeral Home, 922 Main St., Winsted, has care of the arrangements. There will be no calling hours. A celebration of her life will take place at the convenience of the family.
Visit an online guest book at Montano-Shea.com.
