Janette Chaikowski Hirsch was born in Hudson, New York. She is precdeceased by her parents John and Nellie (Krylov) Chaikowski. They had 6 children. Ann (Jim) Smith, Mary (Al) Zimm, Walter (Hon) Chaikowski, Helen "Chickie" (Bucky) Moore, Steven (Elly) Chaikowski, and Janette "Gingy" (Wally). Elly, her sister-in-law is the only survivor, and still lives in Hudson. Janette was born under 2 pounds, kept in a shoebox on the stove, and fed with a handkerchief dipped in milk or an eyedropper. She loved to ride bikes, and play in the creek with the boys. Janette went on to get her RN from the Columbia Hospital School of Nursing in 1956. She practiced nursing at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT, and Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, CT (where daughter Nancy was born in 1962). In 1961 she met Walter Hirsch, an engineer at Electric Boat at the submarine shipyard in Groton, CT. They were married 9/16/61 in Hudson, and Wally survives her. In 1963 they moved to Rockville, MD where they raised their family. They had 2 children Nancy (John) Peterson of Escondido, CA and Bill Hirsch of Escondido, CA (deceased). In 1986 they moved back to New England living in Old Saybrook CT until moving to San Diego in 2012 to be closer to Nancy's family. Janette is also survived by 2 granddaughters Jennifer (John) Peterson and Jessica Peterson. She also had the gift of knowing 2 great grandchildren Julia and Jack Peterson (Jennifer's children).

Janette was comfortable in her role as a wife and mother with all its challenges and responsibilities. Her experience as a nurse, and babysitter to her many nieces and nephews, prepared her for being a mom. She loved landscaping, her vegetable garden, house painting & wallpapering. Janette was very involved in church activities: altar guild, Interfaith group, rummage sale, and the pastoral prayer group. She enjoyed basketball (Go UConn Huskies!), softball, tennis, swimming, and football (Go Patriots!). Janette was a Girl Scout, and passed on her love of camping, fires, and the out of doors to her children and grandchildren. She was adept at handicrafts of all kinds: crocheting, pysanki (Ukranian egg dying), decoupage, macramé, sewing, and making dollhouse furniture. Janette also loved old movies, The Young and the Restless (soap opera), music from the 1940s and 1950s, as well as classical music, musicals, and concerts. She was a proud Ukranian, and loved making holubtsi (cabbage rolls).

A memorial service will be held at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Poway, CA at 11am, Saturday April 1, 2023. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.