Janet Prudence Sterling

Janet Sterling Obituary

September 4, 1936 – February 15, 2026

Janet Prudence Sterling, who was born and lived in Monroe, Michigan for most of her life, passed away at the age of 89 on February 15, 2026 at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital.

Born on the family dining room table on September 4, 1936, Janet was the daughter of Adelaide (Peles) and Earl Shew. She went to schools in Monroe and helped to raise her younger siblings, Earl (“Butch”) and Kathy, and then to University of Michigan where she earned a B.A. in Education. She worked numerous jobs to put herself through college. 

One of those jobs was working as cashier at the Denniston Drive-in Theatre, where she met Joseph Sterling, also of Monroe, who managed the movie theater for his grandfather Joseph Roland (J.R.) Denniston.  Joe frequently shares the story that he had to fire Janet so that he could ask her out on a date in 1957.  They were married on January 16, 1960, and enjoyed a loving relationship until her death.

Janet taught in a first grade classroom for one year before devoting her life to raising her three daughters – Ann, Amy and Emily.  She was a tireless mother, dedicating innumerable hours to designing creative homemade Halloween costumes (such as a human-size Campbell’s Soup Can, and alarm clock with moving hands), that were then engineered by Joe; driving the girls to countless music, dance, gymnastics, ice skating, cheerleading, church groups, and many other activities; volunteering for Camp Fire Girls; sewing endless sequins onto dance costumes; raising various stray pets brought home by the children; and managing all of the cooking, cleaning, and other homemaking. 

In her later years, Janet had the opportunity with Joe to design and build her dream family lake house on Sand Lake in the Irish Hills, which became the center of gravity for the extended family’s gatherings including the husbands and children of the three girls, along with dozens of other friends and neighbors.  The lake house provided a fun and loving home for weeks during the summer, during which the grandchildren forged strong friendships and a loving connection to their grandparents.  The family has fond memories of Janet reading to the six grandchildren, all of them lined up next to her snuggling on the couch.  She also made sure that the grandkids had their own “candy drawer” with endless supplies of illicit treats available all summer long and helped them host lemonade stands and paint rocks to sell.  She loved family game night and was always the most modest participant, while humbly providing the correct answer to every obscure Trivial Pursuit question. She was a great cook and the family treasures memories of her famed chocolate pudding, potato salad, zucchini casserole, and “cucumber goop.”

Janet suffered a significant injury and spent her last decade in long-term care at Evangelical Home in Saline.  The staff there were all fond of her sweet disposition and impressed with her intellectual range.  She enjoyed visits from the family and trips to the lake house surrounded by the grandkids and their friends.

Janet was preceded in death by her sister Kathleen Goncharov, who passed away suddenly on December 31, 2025.  She is survived by her brother Earl and his family; her loving husband Joe; her daughters Ann Goff, Amy Goan, Emily Sterling and their spouses; and six grandchildren – Ashton Goff; Shamus, Ian and Collin Goan; and Mathias and Penina Hall.

A memorial celebration will be held in the spring, date and location pending; information will be available from Rupp Funeral Home.

Online condolences to the family may be made through www.ruppfuneralhomeinc.com