Janet M. (Long) Shalayda

Janet Marie (Long) Shalayda, 75, of South Seaside Park, NJ, passed away Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

Born in Big Spring, TX, she grew up in Northern California and moved to NJ with her family in 1974. She lived in Somerset and South Brunswick before moving to South Seaside Park 27 years ago with her husband Gene Shalayda. She loved being near the beach and created a garden oasis in her yard where she also filled her birdfeeders every morning throughout the year. Family and friends meant the world to her. Anyone could stop by her & Gene’s place at any time and she would offer cheese and crackers and of course a cocktail. She was active in everyone’s life she could touch with her generous and kind heart. She frequently spent portions of her summer in California to visit her parents, siblings and their families. After becoming a grandmother for the first time, she often requested her kids to bless her with more. She was known as “Grammy” and “Goose”.

Janet did administrative work for Western Electric in California and in NJ worked her way to becoming a very successful printing sales rep at Webcraft and various other companies. Being a people person, sales was definitely her calling. She loved to travel to Maryland, Pennsylvania and Michigan for press checks but insisted on making the rounds to see her family before departing on each trip.

Janet had a devout faith that was strengthened at Community Baptist Church in Somerset and she later attended Ocean County Baptist Church in Toms River.

Janet was predeceased by her husband, Eugene Shalayda, in 2019 and her brother, Russell Long, in 2006. She is survived by; her children Michael Foss of Beaufort, SC, Karin Decker (Glen) of Sayville, NY and Randall Foss (Gina) of Toms River, NJ, her stepchildren Karen Zavaglia (Louis) of Whippany, NJ, Thomas Shalayda (Kimberly) of Hebron, CT and Richard Shalayda (Chrissy) of High Bridge, NJ, her brother Ronald Long and sister Carolyn Pacini (Robert), both of California as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins in California and Texas. Janet is also survived by fifteen dear grandchildren, four great-grandchildren with one on the way.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 14, 2022 from 3-7pm at The Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 809 Central Ave, Seaside Park. A funeral service will be offered Saturday, January 15 ,2022 10:00am at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org or Cabrillo College Stroke Disability Center, 6767 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003.
https://foundation.cabrillo.edu/donate-2/

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.ryanfuneralhome.com

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