Janet Ann Keelen, the beloved matriarch of the Keelen family, passed away July 10, 2026. She was a cherished daughter, niece, aunt, cousin and friend who touched many lives through her love, generosity and friendship.
Janet was born in Newark and grew up surrounded by a large extended Irish family. She attended St. Peter’s School in Newark, St. Ann’s School in Keansburg, and graduated from Middletown Township High School, maintaining many close friendships with her classmates up until her passing. Janet played varsity basketball and was a member of the reunion committee for over 50 years.
After graduation, Janet worked at Fort Monmouth as a program analyst, receiving many promotions and accolades throughout her long employment there. Janet relished her time working on the Fort; however, she retired early to be the full-time caretaker for her ailing mother.
Janet embraced her large extended family and lifelong friendships. She spent summers at Tradewinds Beach Club in Sea Bright, sharing a cabana with her close friends. Janet treasured the memories of her trips to Italy with dear friends and Ireland with her brother, cousins, nieces and nephews. Every St. Patrick’s Day, Janet dressed in full Irish regalia and attended parades and parties with family.
Janet was an excellent bridge player, a high-scoring bowler and was always available to lend a hand to family members, friends and many strangers. In her later years, Janet knitted beautiful custom-made scarves, afghans and gorgeous baby blankets for family, friends, her physicians and even acquaintances she met along the way. She was well known for her cheesecakes, Thanksgiving turnips and her extraordinary lentil soup.
Janet was also the family historian, who planned many family reunions, as well as researched and created a family tree which dated back several generations.
Janet was a strong, independent, kind, intelligent, hard-working and compassionate woman. To Janet, a stranger was a friend she hadn’t met yet. She was your toughest critic, biggest cheerleader and staunchest supporter.
Janet was a fun-loving person who enjoyed entertaining, traveling, adventures, celebrations, visiting museums and historical sights, crossword puzzles, sudoku, Kit Kats, Pete and Elda’s pizza as well as washing clothes and ironing everything (long after permanent press was invented). She loved spending leisure time in her pajamas either taking naps or just hanging out in bed reading. The librarians at the Ocean Township Library often set aside new reads they knew Janet would enjoy. At the beginning of every Christmas season, she delivered grave blankets to several local cemeteries for many family members and friends. And every summer, Janet was the person who stood in line to purchase several dozen tickets for Father Alphonse’s Christmas concert at Monmouth College.
Janet eventually settled in Wanamassa and was a long-time parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Asbury Park. For many years, she had a list of people she drove to Mass on Saturday night as well as to Father Alphonse concerts on the beach in Point Pleasant. She volunteered at the Mount Carmel Food Pantry, the grammar school and the church’s weekly Bingo nights.
Janet’s greatest joy was time with her family. She spent days with her many cousins hosting sleepovers, BBQs and brunches. Her nieces and nephews enjoyed time with her playing games, picking peaches, learning to knit and spending days at the ocean, where sea glass hunts and shell collecting were favorite activities.
Janet was predeceased by her father Edward F. Keelen Sr., her mother Helen I. Hertig and her brother Edward F. Keelen, Jr. She is survived by her loving brothers David F. Keelen of Keansburg and John A. (Jay) Keelen of Raleigh, North Carolina, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and two lifelong friends, June Alton and Doris Callahan.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held July 17 at St. Anselm’s Church, Tinton Falls. Burial followed at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Scholarship Fund, Carmel Connection Foundation, 401 Atlantic Ave., Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742-3310 or the Kauffmann Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 665, Keansburg, NJ 07734.
The Keelen family would like to express their appreciation for all the people at Bayside Manor who cared for Janet during the last two years.
Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank has been entrusted with the arrangements.
The article originally appeared in the July 23 – 29, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
