Janet E. (Hodge) Crooks

Janet E. (Hodge) Crooks, age 81, of Merrimac, MA, formerly of Newbury, MA, passed peacefully on Wednesday evening, February 5, 2025 at Avita of Newburyport, after a period of declining health. She was the beloved wife of sixty two years to William K. Crooks, her soul-mate who has been beside her throughout her life. 

Born in Newburyport on July 18, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Stanley C, and Avis E. (Hughes) Hodge and a graduate of Newburyport High School.

Recruited straight from high school, Janet worked as a telephone operator with New England Telephone, later NYNEX, advancing to team supervisor responsibilities and a member of IBEW 103. In 1991, she took early retirement to travel the US by RV and converted bus, eventually moving to Englewood, FL for 15 years. During her many working years, Janet enjoyed her regular bowling league, loved beach meet-ups, pool parties, and other social activities with “the girls”, her group of operators. Her love of gardening, sewing, and baking was evident to all that visited.

She will be fondly remembered by her husband, William; her son, Kenneth Crooks and wife Joanna of Hampton Falls, NH; two grandchildren, Cameron Crooks of Hampton Falls, NH and Hannah Crooks and fiancé Logan Oleson of Missoula, MT; her sister, Joyce Orfant of Merrimac, MA; four nieces and two nephews, Wendy McFarland and husband Michael of Gulfport, MS; Lisa Burns and husband Tim of Plymouth, MA; Kevin Ouellette and wife Laura Donnel of York, ME; Jeff Ouellette of Portsmouth, NH; Amada Goss and husband Ben of Portsmouth, NH; and Larua Dow of Portsmouth, NH; several great nephews; her brother-in-law, Phil Theberge, along with extended family and dear friends. Janet was predeceased by her daughter, Karen Crooks, her sister, Nancy Theberge and her brother-in-law, Daniel Orfant.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 11 A.M. at the First Parish Church, 20 High Road, Newbury, MA 01951, with a Springtime burial at Thomas Parker Cemetery, where Janet will be laid to eternal rest next to her daughter, Karen. Arrangements were by Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.

Donations in Janet’s memory can be made to her son Ken’s rider profile for the 2025 Ride to End ALZ at https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=18255&pg=personal&px=20331958 or directly to the Alzheimer’s Association.