Janet C. Lutz
Janet Charles Lutz, age 89, of Lafayette Hill, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 30, 2025, at Chestnut Hill Hospital.
Born on June 16, 1935, in Dearborn, Michigan, to William and Grace (Hunter) Charles, Janet—affectionately known as Jan—attended Edison Institute in Greenfield Village before entering Cornell University, graduating with a degree in dietetics. It was at Cornell that she met the love of her life, William (Bill) E. Lutz, with whom she built a beautiful life in Glenside and Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.
Jan was known for her warmth, kindness, great cooking, and her ability to bring people together. She formed lasting friendships wherever she went and was deeply committed to her community. She was an active member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, The Philadelphia Cricket Club, AAUW, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Abington Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, and Cornell Alumna Society. For many years Jan worked with her husband at their company Security On-line Systems. Upon retiring to The Hill at Whitemarsh, Jan quickly became a beloved leader, fostering connections and strengthening the community through her enthusiasm and dedication. She always found ways to support and uplift those around her.
A lifelong learner and passionate traveler, Jan and Bill explored the world together in retirement, embracing new cultures, experiences and deepening her knowledge of art and history. She loved to cook, garden, play tennis and swim. She and Bill enjoyed attending the Philadelphia Orchestra, Walnut Street Theater and Stagecrafters. Above all, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great – grandmother, cherishing time spent with her family.
Jan is survived by Bill, her loving husband of 68 years, her children, Christopher (Gail), William Jr. (Angela), and Amy, five grandchildren (Christine, Elizabeth, Thomas, Julia, and Will), and four great-grandchildren (Walter, Cooper, Vinny, and Jack). She will be deeply missed by her many cherished family, friends and loved ones.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 15th, at 11:00am at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Whitemarsh. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church Endowment, Post Office Box 247, Fort Washington, PA 19034 or Whitemarsh Foundation (https://www.whitemarshfoundation.org/take-action), Post Office Box 538, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 honoring Jan’s generous spirit and lifelong dedication to her community.
Bill, I am so sorry for your loss. Jan was a very special person. I will miss dear Jan. Please accept my deepest sympathy to you and your family. Love and prayers, Penny