Beverly Ann Janelle

Beverly Ann Janelle passed away on Saturday, September 19 at the age of 91.

She was born in Cuyahoga, Ohio in the middle of the Great Depression to James and Annette Hanks and grew up in the Cleveland area prior to moving to Claremont with her mother where she attended Stevens High School. After graduating from Stevens in 1953, she attended the University of New Hampshire and then returned to Claremont to take a job as a dental assistant. She married Tim DeVoyd in 1958 and became mom to her 3 beloved sons, Jeffrey, Stephen, and Thomas DeVoyd. After Tom entered first grade, she began working as an administrative assistant to the Vocational Director at Stevens High School then later at the Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center. She worked in the school system for over 45 years, where she loved meeting the students and working with the faculty. That job allowed her to do two of her favorite things: observing and connecting with people.

Once the family purchased a small camper they vacationed regularly in Maine, Cape Cod, and Lake George as well as many other destinations up and down the Northeast US. Her love of travel wasn’t limited to camping. She also traveled by bus, train, and car to places like New York and Washington, DC. She enjoyed going everywhere but especially enjoyed visiting the Maine coast for its scenery and shows at the Ogunquit Playhouse.

She and Raymond Janelle married in 1984 in Claremont where they lived together until his passing in 2020. 

All through her life she was highly active in 2 local organizations, The Stevens Alumni Association and Saint Joseph’s church. She held several official positions in the Alumni Association over the years and loved both watching and riding in the annual parade.

In her spare time Beverly loved knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and sewing. She not only mended clothes but also made clothes for herself and her family and throw pillows for all. Her family enjoyed receiving mittens, scarves, and winter hats hand knit especially for them.

Beverly was predeceased by her husband, Raymond Janelle, her mother, Annette Hanks, her father, James Hanks, her brother, Jim Hanks, and her first husband, Tim DeVoyd.

She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey, Stephen, and Thomas DeVoyd, Jeffrey’s partner, Michelle, Tom’s partner Phil, her sister-in-law Yvette, her niece Tracey, and the many in the area with whom she crossed paths over her long life.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 6 pm on Tuesday, September 29th at Stringer Funeral Home in Claremont. Her funeral service will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, September 30th at St Joseph's church in Claremont. A Celebration of Life reception will be held at St Joseph's following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Stevens Alumni Association, PO Box 710, Claremont, NH, 03743.