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Janet McKee Banks
1937 - 2019

 

We are so very sorry to inform friends, members and supporters of The Friends of the Farm at Hilltop of the recent passing of our founding Director and former President, Janet Banks.

Janet was President of the FOFAH for almost a decade. During her tenure, she steered the the organization through the leasing, purchase, restoration and opening of the historic Hilltop Farm. Her persuasive leadership style enabled the Hilltop Farm to be saved as a flourish and grow.
 
As a member of the Town's Heritage Committee in the early 2000's, Janet was charged with developing a plan for the disposal of Hilltop Farm. She was taken with the beauty and serenity of the Farm and persuaded others to join her in preserving the property for members of the community to enjoy. As a founding member of The Friends of the Farm at Hilltop, Inc, Janet worked constantly to build support for the historical, agricultural and natural heritage site.

She helped to make our local history relevant and significant beyond the boundaries of our town.  She will be greatly missed.

We know that many of you join us in extending sincere condolences to her daughters, Deborah and Anne, as well as to their family. 
Obituary
Janet M. Banks, 82, of Suffield, beloved wife of the late Edward M. Banks, died Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.

Born Feb. 27, 1937, in Belleville, Illinois, daughter of the late T.A. and Mildred (Krauss) McKee, she grew up in Ohio and moved to Suffield in 1964. Trained in music education and social work, she worked for Windsor schools then as an agent with several Suffield area real estate agencies. She was an active volunteer in her church and town including the League of Women Voters, Heritage Committee, as a Girl Scout leader, founding board member of the Friends of the Farm at Hilltop, and 36 years as director of First Church's Handbell Choirs.

Janet is survived by her daughters, Anne R. Banks of Suffield and Deborah C. Banks and granddaughter, Sarah McIntosh, of South Hadley, Massachusetts; a sister, Kathleen Sayler (husband James) of Reno, Nevada; brother-in-law, David Banks of Middletown; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 5, at 11 a.m. at First Church of Christ, Suffield, 81 High St., Suffield.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Friends of the Farm at Hilltop, P.O. Box 372, Suffield, CT 06078-0372 or  First Church of Christ, Suffield.  

Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
FOFAH is an all volunteer, non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable corporation dedicated to restoring Hilltop Farm into an educational and recreational resource for the community. All donations go to the improvement of the farm. Many thanks to our volunteers for their dedication and community support that has allowed FOFAH to advance the restoration of the Hilltop Farmstead.