Janet R. Chobanian

On Tuesday, January 26, Janet Ruth Chobanian, loving mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, died peacefully at her home surrounded by her daughters Margot, Julia, Carrie and Sarah, and beloved beagle Violet.

Janet was born on February 15, 1944 in Rahway, New Jersey to Margaret and Douglas Lyttle. She received her BS in Nursing from the University of Michigan in 1965 and was a lifelong, ardent fan of the Maize and Blue. It was at the University of Michigan that she met Michael Chobanian. When describing meeting Janet, Michael would say, “one wink was all it took.”  That one wink led to 52 years of marriage.  They had four daughters, who they often described as their greatest achievements.                

Janet and Michael moved to East Grand Rapids in 1975 and there Janet began her career in public health nursing. She started with the Kent County Health Department’s WIC program before moving to community nursing, which was her great passion. Janet particularly loved making home visits where she could really get to know her clients and help them develop their parenting skills and health knowledge. She retired from the Kent County Health Department in 2008.

Janet was known for her kindness and compassion, which extended not only to family and friends, but also rescue animals of all kinds. She was extremely creative and artistic, spending countless hours working on detailed dollhouses and intricate cross stitch patterns. Janet was an avid reader, who also loved watching birds at her many feeders. She was a proud member of Trinity Lutheran Church.   

Janet was pre-deceased by her parents, Margaret and Douglas Lyttle and her husband Dr. Michael R.  Chobanian.  She is survived by her daughters Margot (Steven Snider) Chobanian, Julia Hillary, Carrie (David Blanchard) Chobanian and Sarah (Todd) Pinsky, as well as her grandchildren Ceara (Joseph) Murphy, Michael Hillary, Patrick Hillary, Tara Hillary, Samuel Hillary, Anabelle Chobanian-Blanchard, Sonny Chobanian-Blanchard, Charlotte Pinsky and Nathan Pinsky, who loved spending time with their silly and loving Nana Janet.  She is also survived by her sisters Marsha (Mike Pidek) Lyttle, and Judi (Jim) Nelson and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for her family will be held this week and a public virtual service for her many friends will be held at a later date.

Contributions in Janet’s memory may be made to America’s VetDogs (vetdogs.org) or Trinity Lutheran Church (tlcgr.org).

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