Janice Marion Kinsley was born September 25, 1950, in Woodbury, N.J., and grew up with her parents and two brothers on a farm in Deptford, N.J. She completed her BA and MA in Music Education at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University).

Janice loved music and became an accomplished oboist, despite starting lessons only in high school. She also enjoyed singing and playing English horn, piano, and many other instruments. She met her husband, violinist Jeffrey A. Jones of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, at the Aspen Music Festival in 1976.

Jan was especially a dedicated educator who encouraged children’s musical development in many ways. She touched countless students’ lives as a private oboe teacher and as an instrumental music teacher in public schools, first in Cinnaminson, N.J., and then in Hamburg, N.Y., from 1986 until her retirement in 2013.

While living in the greater Buffalo (N.Y.) area she also served as the youth choir director at Hamburg United Methodist Church; the librarian for the Erie County Music Educators’ Association; and the president of the board of directors and then executive director for the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra (GBYO), from 2005-2020. Jan organized numerous concerts, domestic tours, and international performances for the GBYO, which honored her dedication and service in 2020.

As a musician she performed as principal oboist of the Orchard Park Symphony for over 30 years, as well as with the Clarence Summer Orchestra, the Niagara Falls Philharmonic, the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra, and as a substitute with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. She performed as a soloist on several occasions with her husband, including with the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra and the Orchard Park Symphony. In the Buffalo area Jan was known not only as a musician and dedicated music educator, but also as an enthusiastic tennis player, an avid Bills fan, and a generous hostess who enjoyed organizing and cooking for her annual BBQs and Christmas parties.

In 2020 Jan and Jeff moved to The Summit community in Bethel, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. There Jan enjoyed taking daily walks with “the Walkers,” going out to dinner and playing cards with friends, and organizing the Summit Ladies’ monthly luncheons. She also loved traveling, including to Europe with her husband and friends, and with her children and grandchildren to Disney World, Hilton Head Island, and Ocean City, N.J.

Jan/”Nana” was always in the audience, in the bleachers, and at the classroom celebrations for her loved ones. Her love for her children and grandchildren is her greatest legacy.

Janice was predeceased by her parents, Daniel Russell Kinsley, Jr and Doris B. Kinsley, and her brother, Daniel R. Kinsley III.

She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Jeffrey; daughters Alyson Jones (Chris Cramer) of Montreal, QC and Vanessa Visners (Reinis) of Newtown; step-grandchildren Arnaud and Romane Latreille; her five young grandchildren, Rhys Visners, Xavier Latreille, Margot Latreille, Aija Visners, and Maks Visners; and her brother Donald R. Kinsley (Diana), niece Caroline, and nephew John of Kennett Square, P.A.

It was Jan’s wish to be buried next to her parents and brother Danny in the cemetery of Bethel United Methodist Church in Hurffville, N.J. A graveside service will be held there Thursday, September 11, at 1 pm.

A larger memorial service will be held at Honan Funeral Home in Newtown on Sunday, September 14. Visiting hours will begin at 1 pm, with the service at 3 pm.

A musical celebration of life will follow at a later date in Buffalo, New York.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation in Miami, Florida.