Obituary of Janet Anita Senft

Janet Anita Senft (née Luciano), a devoted mother and wife, beloved grandmother, registered nurse, and cherished presence in the Mendham community, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at the age of 88.

Born on January 14, 1937, in Livingston, NJ, to Leonard and Antoinette Luciano, Janet showed leadership, intelligence, and poise from an early age. The tenth of twelve siblings, she carried herself with a quiet elegance and a warm, radiant smile that could brighten any room. Janet’s beauty was both visible and felt—a combination of grace, kindness, and inner light that drew people to her wherever she went. Even as a teenager, she was committed to helping others, traveling two buses several days a week to volunteer as a Cheerie Aide at Columbus Hospital. This spirit never wavered; after attending Grover Cleveland High School in Caldwell, Janet earned her nursing degree from Saint Mary’s Nursing School and completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Seton Hall University. 

Janet was a dedicated and compassionate nurse. Often working double shifts, she rose quickly to become head nurse on intensive care at Saint Michael’s Medical Center, bringing skill, empathy, and steadfast commitment to her patients. During this time, she met her husband, Dr. Adolf Senft, an interventional cardiologist. Their marriage spanned 48 years. It was a partnership of love, respect, and shared devotion to family and service. Together, they raised three children—Carl, Janet, and Christine—in Mendham, NJ. Janet was the proudest of mothers—the guiding force behind her children’s and grandchildren’s achievements, always encouraging, supporting, and celebrating them with constant love and joy.

Family life was the heart of Janet’s world. The Senfts cherished weekends and holidays skiing at their Sussex County farmhouse, summers at their Mantoloking beach house, and trips to Europe to visit family. Janet’s home was a haven of warmth and hospitality; her dining room table welcomed family and friends alike, with meals that reflected her exceptional cooking and her husband’s garden harvest. Every guest left feeling nurtured, seen, and treasured—an expression of the love Janet carried in her heart.

Janet’s elegance extended far beyond her home. She served as president of the Women’s Auxiliary of Columbus Hospital, volunteered at the Morris Museum, and was an accomplished public speaker and devoted patron of the Metropolitan Opera. Her voice, both in speech and in song, was memorable—she could sing the full Armed Forces Medley from memory, honoring her brothers and in-laws who served. She was also a talented athlete in her youth, delighting her grandchildren with her behind-the-back and hook basketball shots.

Janet had a rare gift for making people feel noticed and valued. Whether at the supermarket, the post office, or a neighborhood gathering, she greeted everyone by name and with genuine warmth. She volunteered in her children’s schools, ran countless carpools before GPS or cell phones, and welcomed all her children’s friends as if they were family.

Above all, Janet adored her six grandchildren—Janet, Heidi, Greta, George, Fletcher, and Jack—who knew her lovingly as “Nini.” She embraced every detail of their lives and was their most devoted cheerleader, leaving each of them feeling uplifted, treasured, and confident in their own potential. Her guidance, love, and joy shaped a legacy of warmth and generosity that will live on in the hearts of younger generations.

Janet was predeceased by her beloved husband, Dr. Adolf Senft; her parents; her siblings Nicolina Luciano, Lucille Hoermann, Salvatore Luciano, Beatrice Salemme, Dolores Freeman, Theresa Castelli, Patricia O’Brien, Gloria Szumaski, Anna Mykietyn, and Anthony Luciano; and her brother-in-law Dr. Wolfgang Werning. She is survived by her brother Leonard Luciano (Sally Luciano); brother-in-law John Mykietyn; her children Dr. Carl Senft (Tiffany Senft) of Fair Haven, NJ, Janet Senft Pearce (John Pearce) of New Vernon, NJ, and Christine Senft Callahan of New Vernon, NJ; and her six grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Henriette Werning and Rita Schnurrer (Ludwig Schnurrer) and many nieces and nephews in both Germany and the United States, for whom she had a deep affection.

Janet will be remembered for her timeless elegance, her radiant beauty inside and out, her unwavering love for her family, and the countless lives she touched through her nursing, volunteerism, and friendship. She was, in every sense, a classic—graceful, inspiring, and endlessly cherished.

Visitation will be held at Dangler Funeral Home in Madison on Wednesday, September 3, from 4–7 PM. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, September 4, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Abbey-Delbarton School, 230 Mendham Road, Morristown, NJ.