Janice Ann Opalenski (nèe Manfredi) passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday, April 7th 2024 ending her battle with cancer.

Janice was born on September 24th, 1951 in Washington D.C. to Dominick and Joy Manfredi. Her family moved to Paris when she was four and later to Rome. Since her elementary education began in France and continued in Italy early on she became fluent in three languages.

The church was a core part of life in Rome. Dominick and Joy would often invite other expatriate Americans to meals and parties at their villa on the outskirts of Rome. In 1973 they invited a nice man with a motorcycle named Philip Opalenski who they had met at church to lunch. Philip was a medical student at the University of Rome Policlinico. Janice met Philip and they began dating and fell in love. In 1976 they were married in Rome and moved to Boston, MA. Janice worked as a translator for three years while Philip pursued his medical career. They started a family and in 1980 moved to Providence, RI where Janice resided until her passing.

Janice was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. When asked what parenting had taught her she replied, “caring for and putting others ahead of yourself”. Her dedication and love for her husband, three sons and daughter was without limits. She managed the schedules and interests of four children: volunteering and serving on parents councils, cheering at athletic events, attending plays and shows and chaperoning gatherings. She provided guidance, support and a safe place for her family that extended to friends. The Opalenski home was walking distance from school and was always a meeting spot. Friends came to rest, raid the fridge or take refuge. She was like a surrogate mother to many of her children’s friends.

Food was a central part of the family experience under the Opalenski roof. It was a passion that both Janice and Philip shared with each other. Together they would flip through Gourmet magazines looking for new recipes and meals to prepare. It was one of the earliest hobbies they shared as newlyweds and one they continued throughout their marriage. Janice had Gourmet magazines cataloged by month going back to the early 1980s. Every month she would pull out that collection to leaf through in search of inspiration for recipes and what to put on her table during the week and new festive dishes for every holiday. Her family and her siblings with their extended families all delighted in her feasts. Summertime brought huge batches of fresh pesto which were enjoyed both fresh and frozen for the winter. In the fall there was a pumpkin soup to start Thanksgiving followed by turkey with her famous stuffing. In the winter there was lentil soup to welcome the New Year. In the spring there was baked ham always followed by pea soup from the leftovers. This year an almost finished ham still sits in the fridge. She was known for her coleslaw, four cheese pasta, turkey meatballs, meatloaf and salad vinegar. Her famous vinegar made a bland salad a popular course in every meal. She’d make blueberry pies for her oldest son’s birthday every year when he was young.

Janice and Philip would have their weekly date nights going to eat out together at restaurants around Providence. When they would travel to New York for weekends they would research new restaurants from the New York Times and make reservations, usually weeks if not months in advance. Janice was an avid planner and list maker. She always liked to have her things and plans organized so she was never unprepared for whatever schedule or task.

In her later years Janice was delighted to see her “babies having babies” and threw herself into being a grandmother. She adored her grandchildren and loved to read and sing to them. Activities and gifts she would not do with her own children were lavished upon her grandchildren. No trip to the zoo, circus or show would end without a trip to the overpriced gift shop where her grandchildren could get a memento. Each holiday, no matter how minor, kids would get books or candy from their beloved Nonna. Her generosity and compassion knew no bounds. As her children moved out of the house and started their own families Janice began to devote her time to the community becoming active in her local Catholic parish, St. Sebastian’s. She taught Sunday school and volunteered her time to help the less fortunate. Janice loved to read. She would read books in English, Italian and French to keep her mind sharp. She enjoyed authors like Marcel Proust, Italo Calvino and Jean de La Fontaine.

Janice was a graceful, caring, loving, kind, patient, organized and altruistic person. Even this is incomplete to fully describe the truly wonderful person she was. Her gentle nature and sensitive soul left a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

She leaves behind her loving husband, Philip; her son Stephen, with Leah and her grandchildren Lydia, Miles & Sydney; her son Michael, with Simona and her granddaughter Penelope; her son Justin, with Morgan and her grandchildren Greyson, Charlotte & Genevieve; and daughter Lauren, with Juan and her grandchildren Mateo, Socorro & Camilo.

On June 15th 2024, Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 AM at Church of St. Sebastian, 67 Cole Ave. Providence, RI. The celebration of Janice’s life will follow from 12 to 5 PM at the Aurora Civic Association, 289 Broadway, Providence, RI 02903.

Arrangements entrusted to the Skeffington Funeral Home and Cremations 925 Chalkstone Avenue Providence.

For online condolences kindly visit: Skeffingtonfuneralhome.com

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