Janet Yvonne (Blackburn) Brancato

Janet Yvonne (Blackburn) Brancato, born on December 6, 1938, in Hannibal, NY. to James and Jessie (Poorman) Blackburn, peacefully passed on from this life on January 7th, 2026, surrounded by her family.

     She graduated from Hannibal High School in 1954 at the age of 16. This was due to the fact that at age four, she would follow her older sister & brothers across the road and field to their two-room schoolhouse. The teacher told her parents to let her come along as she was no trouble. In high school, she enjoyed being a part of the Cheer Squad and was voted Prom Queen in her senior year. After high school, she found employment as a secretary first at the Sealright factory in Fulton, NY, and then at the Breneman Shade Cloth factory in Oswego, NY, where she worked until she married and started a family.

     It was in the dance hall, The White Horse, on the lake in Oswego, NY, that she would meet the man she would spend the next 55 years with (53 married). She said she knew it was meant to be when he asked her to dance because they were both wearing mint green shirts, and she had on kaki dress shorts, and he had kaki dress pants. The clincher was the next couple of hours spent dancing with each other. This would become one of their favorite pastimes, something their children would grow up loving to watch. It was a skill and passion that on cold winter nights, they would try to share with their young children by putting on old 45’s and instructing them on dances like the Fox Trot, Jitter Bug, and Waltz. After becoming married, she would spend a little over the next decade building a family of six children with her husband Joseph. Although later she would return to work part-time, while her youngest were still in school (pizza making at Canale’s Restaurant, and as an aide at The Ladies Home) and full-time once they were grown (15 years as the Office/Property Manager of the Pontiac Apartments). Though she gave 200% to any task or job she ever took on, it was the roles of wife, mother, and friend that she will be most remembered and revered for. She was a steadfast friend who, once you were offered her friendship, you had a friend for life. She gave to those she loved willingly and without fanfare, selflessly going without for herself to bring joy or a smile to her children or her husband’s face. She was blessed with a husband who valued how much she gave and tried his best to instill in their children respect and gratitude for all she did. The World may have looked at her and seen simply a mother, but to her children, she was simply the whole world.

     After retiring, she enjoyed spending time with family, reading, and doing daily exercise, usually consisting of going to the gym. She spent many years keeping in shape at the YMCA, often receiving the awe and respect from the young women at the gym for the seriousness she took with her exercising. She also enjoyed an occasional breakfast or lunch date to keep up with friends. She found solace throughout her adult life in her deep faith in God. Believing earnestly that no one is given anything more than they can bear, along with God’s strength.

     She spent seven years caring for her husband Joseph Anthony Brancato, Sr, who bravely faced cancer and passed away in 2011. She was also predeceased by both her parents and sister Lois (Blackburn) Shortslef of Hannibal, NY, brother James Blackburn of Fulton, NY, and brother Harlow E. Blackburn, Sr of Phelps, NY. She is survived by her sister Bonnie (Fred) Watson of Raddison NY, along with her six children, Joann (Bill) Jacquin of Oswego, NY, Joseph Jr. (Jamie) Brancato of Oswego, NY, Susan (Tim) Beougher, of Butler, OH, Annette (Anthony) DiPierro, of Oswego, NY, Chris (Patty) Brancato of Oswego, NY, and John Brancato of Syracuse, NY, twenty-two grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. As well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Private arrangements are under the caring guidance of Nelson Funeral Home.