JANET ANN (NAPOLITANO) GALLANT - Portland, died February 7th, 2025, at Gosnell House four days after celebrating her 93rd birthday with her son and brother at her home.

 She was born Feb. 3, 1933, in Portland, the daughter of late Nunzio F. and Sara (Lee) Napolitano. Janet attended Portland schools Roosevelt, Longfellow and Deering High School, graduating in 1950 at age 17 at the top of her class. After graduation, she attended Westbrook College and earned an Associate degree. 

She worked various jobs, including as an Administrative Assistant for the American Oil Company where she met her husband John F. Gallant and they were married three years later, on June 4th in 1960 at St. Joseph’s church. They honeymooned in the Cape and gave birth to their only son Paul Vernon Gallant, on April 7, 1961, at Mercy hospital. Janet & John were married 54 years until John’s passing at age 80 in 2014. 

After marrying, Janet worked part-time for an attorney but was mainly a “domestic engineer” as she called her homemaking and motherhood duties, and in her spare time she was an ardent Elvis fan who collected every record, saw every movie, and finally saw Elvis perform on May 24th, 1977, in Augusta, a highlight of her life, sharing it with her sister Mary Sue, husband and son. The night after the concert, she was lucky enough to be spoken to by Elvis when a crowd surrounded his limo in the parking lot at the Sheridan Hotel in So. Portland, she was positioned at his car door as he entered and yelled “We love you, Elvis” to which he looked up and responded, “Thank you”. Janet had many interests, passions and accomplishments including writing poetry, dabbling in astrology, and caring for her many, well-loved cats: Simone, Sabrina, Cocoa, Sinbad, Sambuca, and Talika. 

Janet is survived by her son Paul, and brother Arthur P. Napolitano Sr., both of Portland, as well as several nieces and nephews, including nephews Arthur P. Napolitano Jr., Nunzio L. Napolitano (Cynthia), Stephen M. Napolitano, and nieces Andrea J. Napolitano, and Kristina M. Napolitano Boissonneault (Denis), and several great nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband and parents, she was pre-deceased by her brother Vernon F. Napolitano, sister Mary Sue (Napolitano) Capozza, and sister-in-law Maria C. (DellaValle) Napolitano. 

The family thanks Rebecca Royer at Casco Bay Ambulance Service as well as the nurses and staff at Gosnell House for the great care they showed Janet in her short time there. 

A service will be held in the spring at A.T. Hutchins funeral home with interment at Calvary Cemetery, So. Portland, date to be announced.