Janis L. Momarts

Janis Lametta Momarts of 218 Bella Vista Drive, Ithaca, formerly of Trumansburg, passed away at home on Friday, July 13, 2012 at the age of 88.

Born on August 12, 1923 in Tacoma, Washington, Janis was the daughter of the late John and Marian (Sisson) Cross. Growing up on Puget Sound, Janis rode and owned horses. She was an accomplished musician, starting with piano and then saxophone, clarinet and accordion which she played into her 60’s. During World War II, Janis worked at the Bremerton Navy Yard where she met her husband, Robert E. “Bob” Momarts a Navy Medical Chief who served on ship and in Korea. Being a service family they moved a lot before settling in Trumansburg. Janis drove school bus for the Trumansburg and Ithaca School Districts for 20 years, and had many of our residents on her bus. Following her retirement, Janis operated the While-Away pet sitting service with her husband Bob, again serving many of our residents.

Janis enjoyed outside activities with her family and friends including weekend outings and vacations to various National and State Parks and historic areas, archery, and gardening. She was the Women’s State Champion Archer for 6 years. She had a real green thumb and her flowers and gardens were always beautiful and well known. Janis loved spending time in beauty salons, having her hair styled and nails manicured. Most of all, she cherished the many cats she owned throughout the years.

Janis is survived by her daughter, Melanie (Jim) Manning of Randolph, NJ; a grandson, Robert (Elizabeth) Manning of Lebanon, NJ; and longtime companion Lisa Coleman of Ithaca as well as her new four-footed companion Cali. In addition to her parents, Janis was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. “Bob” Momarts in 1999 and most recently by her dear four-footed companion Sugar who passed away in May.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South Street, Trumansburg. Prayers of committal will immediately follow in Grove Cemetery.

The family asks those who wish to remember Janis in the form of a contribution to kindly consider the Tompkins County SPCA, 1640 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850.