Janet Olga Gerenz

Janet Olga Gerenz, 86, of Nashua, NH, and former longtime resident of Merrimack, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15th 2026, at her home with her family by her side.

Born in Passaic, NJ on June 6th, 1939, Janet was one of two daughters to the late Frederick and Dorothea (Mende) Weiss. She was raised in Clifton, NJ, graduated from Clifton High School and studied office administration and management at Berkeley School.

Janet worked as an administrator for Redeemer Lutheran Church in Woburn, MA, and as a Senior Administrator at MITRE Corporation for many years before moving to New Hampshire with her husband Ralph where she became a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Nashua.

Janet was known for her extraordinary gift for bringing people together. She flawlessly planned and hosted gatherings of all sizes, including ten Oktoberfest celebrations with over 100 attendees. Along with Ralph, they converted an antique barn on their Merrimack property into an event space, ensuring there was always room for family, friends, and anyone who might otherwise be alone on a holiday.

Her compassion extended beyond people. A lifelong animal lover, Janet shared her home with many beloved pets, and animals of all kinds seemed to instinctively be drawn to her gentle presence. Her home was a registered wildlife sanctuary, reflecting her commitment to nurturing life and beauty.

Deeply rooted in her faith, Janet volunteered alongside Ralph at Meals on Wheels for ten years and remained actively involved in her church.

She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Ralph Gerenz; four children, Peter Gerenz and his wife Catherine, Karen and her husband Jay Wanek, Diane and her husband David Brown and Eileen Gerenz and her husband Fred Robertson; 12 grandchildren, Andrew, Paige, Genevieve, Megan, Molly, Jason, Joshua, Marie, Alison, Christopher, Else and Dorothea; 2 great-grandchildren, Ilias and Asher and her sister, Linda Holm.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 130 Spitbrook Road, Nashua, NH on May 2 at 10:30 AM.