Janet Louise Hoover

JANET LOUISE HOOVER, 101, of Glenside, PA

 

Janet passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday October 14th 2026 at the age of 101.  She was born April 1st 1925 in Sproul, PA, Bedford County, also known as Morrison’s Cove, the daughter of Chester A. and Roberta (Mock) Gochnour.  After the death of Roberta, Chester married Gladys (Steele) Zook in 1935.  Janet had a full brother, Faye, and Gladys brought into the marriage her two children, Jane (Zook/Gearhart) and Bill Zook.  Together they had two children, Paul and James Gochnour.

 

Janet graduated as valedictorian of her 1943 Replogle High School class, then went off to nursing school at Windber Hospital, PA to receive her RN degree in nursing in 1946.  This was during WW2.  As a nursing student she helped perform many surgeries since most of the doctors were tied up in the military. Her high school sweetheart, John R. E. Hoover of New Enterprise, was drafted into the army and was soon to be sent overseas to the Pacific Theater.  Thus at the ages of 20 and 19, John and Janet were quickly married on March 11, 1945.  Thankfully, John returned safely a year or so later and surprised Janet at her nursing school graduation.

 

John finished his B.S degree at Juniata College while Janet worked as a nurse at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital in Huntingdon, PA.  John entered graduate school at U. of Penn in Philadelphia and the couple moved to the Philadelphia area where Janet worked as a psychiatric nurse at Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry.   Years later she continued her nursing skills as a volunteer at Abington Memorial Hospital.   She spent most of her life as a wonderful wife and stay-at-home mother making an exceptional home and life for her family.  She was known for her amazing skills at making tasty meals each and every day.

 

Janet was known by all as a model of the perfect person.  She never had an unkind word for anyone, she lived her life frugally and modestly, had a sweet sense of humor, a joyful life, lots of friends and a tight knit family.  She was the epitome of how a true Christian should live their life.   Personal integrity, loyalty, and dependability were her major tenants.  She will be greatly missed but will always be with us in our hearts and thoughts.

 

Janet is survived by her three children,  Carol Lynn Johnston (David) of Oreland, PA,  John Lawrence (“Larry”) Hoover of Wilmington, DE, and Karen Ann Quinn (David) of Roslyn, PA.

She has nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

 

She is also survived by her half brother James Gochnour (and his wife Dee) of New Paris, PA, stepbrother William Zook (and his wife Pat) of Hopewell, PA, sister-in-law Dorothy Gochnour (Faye’s wife) of Martinsburg, PA, and sister-in-law Marilyn Gochnour (Paul’s wife).

 

Predeceased siblings were her brother Faye Gochnour of Roaring Springs, PA, her half brother Paul Gochnour of Morrison’s Cove, PA, and her step sister Jane Zook Gearhart and her husband, Harry, of Hopewell, PA.

 

Janet was a life-long member of the Church of the Brethren, an active and faithful member of Philadelphia First Church of the Brethren for seventy five years.

 

There will be a celebration of Janet’s life on Saturday, October 24th at 1:00 PM at the Philadelphia First Church of the Brethren, 8707 W. Cheltenham Ave.  Wyndmoor, PA. People may come at 12:00 noon to give their condolences to the family before the service.