Janice (Desautels) Neville, beloved wife of the late Michael Neville, passed away suddenly on Saturday, September 14th, 2024 at the age of 61.  Born in Worcester, she is the beloved daughter of the late Alfred and Lorraine (Brisebois) Desautels.

Originally from Gardner and Worcester, Jan moved to Lynnfield and was a graduate of Lynnfield High School.  She then attended Babson College, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Advertising.  In 1986, she married the love of her life, Mike, and they were perfect matches from the start. They both began an exciting new chapter in New York City, where Jan took a job with Calvin Klein.  Deciding they did not want to raise "Yankee fans," they moved back up to Lynnfield to raise her sons Connor and Liam - a family that instantly became the center of Jan's world.

Jan was always active in athletics, fitness and nutrition, a passion she shared with her husband.  Both did their part yearly for the Pan Mass Challenge; Mike rode and Jan fundraised.  She was a part of the local tennis community, making friends there as she did everywhere else. Always being physically active, it was a proud time when Janice became a certified athletic trainer.  She was able to share her love and knowledge of health with others on their journeys.

Jan loved her home and sharing it with others.  She would host cookouts by the pool, holiday dinners and all types of big family gatherings.  She had a love for gardening, the beach and Cape Cod in particular; visitors would say her home looked like a "beach house," decorated with vacation photos and splashes of aqua and turquoise.  She and Mike built a happy life of simple pleasures and routine, enjoying cups of tea on the porch in the morning before work.

However, her greatest joy came from spending time with her family.  Jan was always looking forward to the next family brunch downtown, or the next Celtics game with her son Connor. She loved to support her family's passions, playing various video games with her sons, rebounding basketballs for Connor, and driving Liam to soccer.  Her goldendoodle, Walt, was never far from her side.  She will be greatly missed by her children, siblings, nieces and nephews and dear friends.  Jan touched so many lives with her positivity and joy for life.

Jan truly made friends everywhere she went.  She always wanted to show her friends that she cared about them, attending comedy shows, dinners, drag shows, and sporting events.  Her coworkers at Physical Therapy North became an additional, tight-knit family for her later in life.

Jan's boundless optimism, kindness and resilience was never more evident than in the months following Mike's passing. The way in which she seized each new day served as an example for her whole family.  This summer, Jan made a heroic effort to have her entire family be together again in Eastham, their favorite spot on the Cape.  In celebration of Mike, this family vacation was one of the happiest, most meaningful weeks of her life.  Helping to make this week possible was Erin Winsor, who began taking Walt on walks years prior, and became a dear friend of the family through the easy and the difficult times.

Jan is the devoted mother of Connor Neville and his girlfriend Jennifer Byron of Boston and Liam Neville and his girlfriend Samantha Davis of Quincy.  Cherished sister of Neil Desautels and his wife Theresa of Lynnfield, Lisanne Wilson and her husband Dr. Joe Wilson of Monument, Colorado and the late Denise Stone.  Loving sister-in-law of Connie Neville of Lexington. Beloved aunt to Jacqueline Desautels of Lynnfield, Kellyn and Drake Wilson of Colorado and Jarrett and Travis Kelley of Lexington.  Jan also leaves dear friends Kristen Singer, Cheryl Schedin and Ellen Pierce; all of her beloved colleagues and patients at Sports Medicine North; and countless other friends.

Family and friends are cordially invited to visiting hours at the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St., North Reading (Corner of Park St. and Rt. 28 at the Reading Line) on Saturday, September 21st, 2024 from 1 to 4pm.