Janet McCarthy

Janet Elizabeth McCarthy 1944-2026 

Born in Newark to Alfonso and Geraldine DiDomenico Briante with her sister Santa Briante O’Brien (1942-2019). Janet moved to Bloomfield when she was 6 and Graduated Bloomfield High School in 1962. 

Janet was the cherished wife of Raymond McCarthy, with whom she shared 49 remarkable years of marriage. Their relationship was something truly special—a partnership filled with love, loyalty, laughter, and an unwavering commitment to one another. Their 49 years together were a testament to a love that was enduring, genuine, and deeply admired by everyone fortunate enough to witness it. Their marriage was, by any measure, one of the great love stories. 

Janet’s other greatest pride was her family. She was the devoted mother of Christine Mauro, Joseph Mauro his wife Angela Mauro, and Carli McCarthy. She was fiercely proud of her children and everything they did, and she made absolutely certain that everyone else knew it, too. Janet loudly and enthusiastically proclaimed their accomplishments to anyone who would listen. Their happiness was her happiness, and their successes were among her greatest joys. Being their mother was one of the roles she treasured most. 

Janet was deeply committed to her community. As a former First Lady, she embraced the opportunity to serve and became an active and familiar presence in civic life. She dedicated herself to numerous charitable organizations and causes, including the Neighbor to Neighbor Network, Lions Club, United Way, and the Board at Oaks Estate. She believed in giving her time, helping others, and doing whatever she could to make her community a better place. 

Janet was also a prolific and accomplished artist. Her creative journey began at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art, where she studied and earned a degree in Graphic Design. She spent many years working as a graphic designer, building a career around the artistic talent and creative vision that had always been a part of her. 

Later in life, Janet returned to her passion for fine art, focusing particularly on watercolor painting. Her beautiful work earned awards, and she participated in craft shows and exhibitions throughout New Jersey. Art remained an important part of her life and gave her another way to share her creativity and the beauty she saw in the world. 

Janet was also fiercely proud of her Italian heritage. She carried the traditions of her family with tremendous love and pride, serving with UNICO and celebrating the customs passed down by her grandparents from Avellino. These traditions were not simply things she remembered—they were things she lived. She was fortunate to visit Italy several times and see the towns of her ancestors. 

She kept those traditions alive in the kitchen and around the family table. There were jars of tomatoes, Sunday gravy, and the Feast of the Seven Fishes every Christmas Eve. Food, for Janet, was never just food. It was family, heritage, memory, celebration, and love. 

And so, in Janet’s honor, her family would like to ask that you do what she would have wanted: enjoy some meatballs and soft macaroni. Sit around a table. Tell stories. Laugh loudly. Eat well. Raise a glass to family. Keep the traditions going. 

Because that is how Janet would want to be remembered—not simply with sadness, but with full hearts, full plates, and the people she loved gathered together. 

Her generosity extended far beyond formal civic duties. Janet was the kind of person who showed up, got involved, and cared and was a deeply loyal friend. She built relationships wherever she went and left an impression on the people fortunate enough to know her.  

And to quote her favorite saying “An artist never dies” her work will  just like her life will live on forever. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Janet's memory to:

Neighbor to Neighbor at https://volunteerntnn.org

or to

Bloomfield Lions Club, 41 Carmer Ave, Belleville, NJ 07109

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