Patricia Janus

Patricia "Pat" Janus (April 20,1932 - June 9, 2006) was an American poet.

Born Patricia O'Brien to Thomas and Rose O'Brien, she was raised in New York City where she worked for a brokerage firm. She met John "Jack" Janus (1910-1991), whom she married in the early 1950s. Her husband went on to become a pharmacist, and his work eventually tranplanted the family (which by then included two sons and one on the way) to Rochester, NY.

Her work appeared in numerous literary publications, including "The Atlantic Monthly", "Yankee", and "American Poetry Review", and was anthologized in several volumes, including "Summer Songs" (2004), "Knocking on the Silence" (2005), and "The Pinnacle Hill Review". Her collection "Love in the Time of Anthrax" was released by [http://www.foothillspublishing.com FootHills Press] in 2005. Her last volume is "Synchronicity", published by FootHills in June, 2006.

A member of a group of Rochester artists who meet weekly as the "Artists' Breakfast Group," she created a number of mixed
media pieces over the years which were displayed in various area exhibits, including Rochester's [http://www.centerathighfalls.org/art.htm Center at High Falls Gallery] , "Line Art", and "16x20" shows, and, in May 2006, "Text & Texture II", which featured what would be her final piece, "Pain."

A member of Rochester Poets since the late 1960s (when it was called The Rochester Poetry Society), she served the organization in several posts, including terms as president.

She had a career as a hospital nurse; upon her retirement she worked in Rochester as a hospital chaplain at [http://www.stronghealth.com/services/cancer/facilities/hhinpatient.cfm Highland Hospital] , and a hospice oncology nurse at [http://www.volunteersolutions.org/uwgr/org/219106.html Isaiah House] .

"Battling cancer herself for nearly a year, she died on June 9, 2006, aged 74, at Highland the day after a publication reading for "Synchronicity", a volume of collected poems spanning the years since 1970. On the last evening of her life, Pat gave a reading for Just Poets in Pittsford, NY. A packed audience witnessed and heard her read from her book "Synchronicity," just released that evening. She treated all who attended to an amazing voyage in words and personality. Her poems made us laugh, reminisce, reflect and skirt the border of tears. Ever the poet, she left us with an experience we will all treasure forever."

She continued her work as a chaplain and nurse up until a few weeks before her death and was still working on a chapbook of poems about New Mexico.

Upon her death, she was survived by three sons -- Mark, Kevin (wife, Tracy) and Thomas -- and four grandchildren.

Below is one of her poems, which was published in the National Catholic Reporter on December 12 2003

: Visiting a Quaker Meeting
: I am new to this.: My mantra selects itself,: different from the one I chose.

: The kangaroo mind leaps: to my list of needs.

: Is someone watching the time?

: The monkey chatters.

: Is this how forever begins?

: The mind and heart: go off on different paths;: the mantra calls them back: until it changes: to a prayer of syllables: that does not translate into words: but spirit song.

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