Posted on 10/31/2018
Janet Elizabeth Shaw Finn passed away peacefully on Monday, October 22, 2018, and took her first steps into the everlasting presence and glory of God. Janet bravely endured the ravages of Alzheimer's for 12 years. She struggled, smiled, and never quit. She was preceded in death by her husbands Carl J. Rohsenberger, Jr., Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, and William A. Finn, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.); father and mother Colonel Lawrence E. Shaw, U.S. Army (Ret.) and Suzanne Isaacson Shaw; and sister Nancy Shaw Hoenig and husband Josef. She is survived, loved, respected, and admired by many including son Carl Rohsenberger and his wife Kathy Rohsenberger, son William E. Finn, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.) and his wife Kristi Finn; grandchildren and great-grandchildren William S. Finn, Michael Finn, Kathryn Finn, Austin Crews, Arin Burke, Cole Montalvo, and Jonathan Crews; and sister Stephanie Shaw Alexander and her husband Stephen. When God made Janet, He broke the mold. All those who knew her, knew a woman perfectly faithful to God and her Catholic tradition, faithful to her family and friends, and faithful serving her fellow man. All with an infectious sense of humor. More than happiness, she was filled with joy. Her joy fueled her service to young and old alike. You could find her doing endless acts of kindness for friends, teaching youth their religious fundamentals, baking you a pie, taking Communion to "those old folks", or just inviting you over for coffee and a chat. Janet was born at Ft. Monroe, Virginia. From there she and sister Nancy were whisked by their folks Larry and Sue to Hawaii, then Venezuela (she became fluent in Spanish), and then when WWII broke out, to her folks home town of Aberdeen, Washington. She spent many wonderful years with the Isaacson and Sundborg clans, and held these memories to the end, although we doubt the stories of horseback riding which her Alzheimer's invoked upon her. If we're in error, please let us know! After the war the family moved to Arlington, Virginia. Shortly thereafter Janet attended William & Mary College. She then matriculated to Katharine Gibbs College where she became a world-class "Katie Gibbs" secretary. She married LT Carl Rohsenberger, Jr. in 1957 and gave birth to son Carl Rohsenberger, III in 1958. Following the death of husband Carl in an aircraft carrier accident in 1960, she moved from Jacksonville, Florida to the Washington, DC area and worked for Congressman Joseph Addabbo, on Capitol Hill. Her secretarial and shorthand wizardry were renowned for 3 years until betrothed to LT William A. Finn, USN in 1963. From this point son William Edward Finn was born in 1964 in Carmel, California, and then homesteads in Ohio, Virginia, and Florida. All the while, gathering hundreds of friends whose relationships endured until the end including Lloyd and Carol Fernald, Bill and Sherry Marin, and Ed and Solveig Palanek. Janet was very humble, but achieved greatness through her service to God, her family, her friends, and her country as a steadfast Navy wife. She was a passionate Catholic who loved every aspect of her faith and, with husband Bill, invested many hours in music and teaching ministries. She was a most loving wife and encouraging mother. One could not ask for a better friend. Janet did all things with love; love of God, and love of people. We will miss her dearly. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Janet S. Finn's name to the Alzheimer's Association or the US Naval Academy Foundation – 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402. Funeral services at the Old Post Chapel Fort Myer, Virginia and interment in Arlington National Cemetery are pending.
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