Janet “Jan” Clements, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away peacefully at her home on March 25, 2026 from metastatic breast cancer. She was 74.
Jan was a devout Christian who lived her life in service to others, especially those with special needs. Her career accomplishments include training as an ASL Signer at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. She attended Elim Bible College and volunteered on several missions in South America.
She obtained a degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Northern Virginia Community College and practiced in Naples and Fort Myers, Florida, as well as New Jersey, Northern Virginia and Haiti. Her volunteer work in Haiti spanned 15 years, including several trips despite rigorous and often dangerous situations. While in Naples, she received her Massage Therapist license and started her own massage therapy business, which she continued to practice along with physical therapy for the last 20 years in Northern Virginia.
Jan’s unwavering compassion and sense of adventure left a lasting imprint on all who knew her. Her resilience in the face of adversity inspired many, and her dedication to both her faith and her profession was evident throughout her life. Her legacy continues through the lives she touched, the communities she served, and the memories she created with family and friends.
Jan was a lover of dogs, especially her dog, Baby, and a group known as the Black Dog Collective. She played the piano and keyboard, favoring spiritual and country music. She embraced Nia’s “dancing through life” to invigorate the mind and body, traveling to Greece for workshops and elsewhere to further her training.
In addition to her cabin in Front Royal, she owned a tiny house where she lived off grid on her property in Fort Valley.
Jan is survived by her brother, Donald (Joanne) of Melbourne, Florida. Her nieces and nephews along with numerous friends will miss her calming manner and unwavering acceptance of God’s will.
She is predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Catherine of Dominion Hills in Arlington, Virginia; and brothers, Sam and Jerry.
A Celebration of Life in Front Royal will be scheduled for some time in mid-May.
Jan was a thoughtful and caring neighbor in Dominion Hills for many years. She was devoted to her parents, caring for her mom for many years after her dad’s passing. The Sperry family is better for having known Jan.
Janet was the beloved sister of my friend Don and his wife Joanne. With the loss of his only sister, the legacy of the Clements family siblings comes to an end signaling the fragility and finality of our human condition and life on earth. She was a special woman who lived life fully in the service of others, both human and animal. And she did so with conviction and without compromise or apology. Janet leaves a legacy of impact upon the many friends and family she touched. CJK 04/08/26
My dear and beloved friend Jan, the Lord has called you into His presence, and you leave behind a great void for having been such a wonderful person, a good friend, and an excellent defender of wildlife and nature. Here in Bolivia, you left beautiful memories; we will not forget you, and you will always remain in our hearts. By the grace of God, we will meet again. Fly high, Jan—I am sure you are now part of the garden of flowers of our Lord. A hug to heaven from your friend Miriam and family.
I knew Jan my whole life as we grew up together on Longfellow St. We re-connected when she returned to NoVa. I would visit with her and her mom on their front porch. We remembered neighbors who had come and gone, changes in Dominion Hills and the Westover shopping area. We did a few yard sales with proceeds to go to mission work in Haiti before it got too dangerous to go there.
When she moved away we stayed in touch and she would visit when back in Arlington. A fine person, good friend and giving human. Miss you Jan but enjoy eternal rewards – you definitely earned them!
Janet was always faithful, constantly seeking God, relying on Him, and sharing His word. No matter what happened, she chose to hold onto hope, joy, and gratitude within her faith, rather than giving in to fear or frustration.
She held both deep concern and a bright hope for Haiti, keeping the country in her constant prayers.
I will miss her-the way she would reach out whenever I crossed her mind, greeting me with her radiant smile, generosity, and kindness. But I know she is now by God’s side, free from all pain and suffering, happy with that same bright smile on her face.