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In Memory

Janine Hamel - Class of 1976

Janine Ann Hamel (Lettera)

September 25, 1958 - May 22, 1999

Janine Hamel Lettera was a Paramus High School graduate (1976) and New Jersey kindergarten teacher who sadly passed away in 1999 at the age of 40. Janine was a talented poet and creative visual artist.

Janine Hamel Lettera's book THE CRY OF THE SEAGULL: JANINE'S SEA OF EMOTIONS

Her first book "My First Day of School" was published posthumously in 2012. Throughout the years, Janine's mom Carol discovered Janine's emotional and poignant poetry and art and recently forwarded it to her Goddaughter Susan J. Farese. Susan edited, formatted and published "THE CRY OF THE SEAGULL: JANINE’S SEA OF EMOTIONS" in 2023 to celebrate and honor Janine and her body of work. Please feel free to contact Susan J. Farese if you have any questions at sjfcommunications@gmail.com or 858-353-7488


Posted on behalf of Barbara L. Smith (2013): "This book was just recently published. Janine was a kindergarten teacher and one of the teachers had found this book, that Janine wrote, either in her desk or on the school computer. It was shared with Janine's mother Carol and our friend Lisa is a publisher and published the book just this past year."

Posted on behalf of Melinda Patelli (2013): "Janine is laid to rest in a mausoleum next to my Parents (Garden of Memories, in Paramus) At my Mom's funeral, I was also so saddened to see Janine's stone and the beautiful photo of her attached to it ... such a beautiful young woman, so full of life ... I take a moment to say a prayer for her, too, every time I go to visit. May God Bless them, and may they all Rest in Peace."