Janet M. Hyland

Janet (Jan) Lois Mitchell Hyland, 78, passed away on the evening of March 19 in East Greenwich, Rhode Island after battling pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her beloved sons, Jason (Lori), Scott, Chad (Anne), ten grandchildren, Taylor, Hannah (Nick DiRocco), Jacob, Nicholas, Jace, Kaiya, Jayda, Landyn, Ella, Ryder and two great grandchildren Emma and Ellie. She is also survived by brothers Earle (Hilda) and Robert, niece Jamie (John Wiseman), and grandnieces and nephew, Abigail, Chloe, and Benjamin. She is preceded in death by her parents, Earle and Evelyn, and sister-in-law Lynda Mitchell.

Jan was born on May 21, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York. She dedicated her life to education both in and out of the classroom. She graduated from East Greenwich High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Aurora University in 1969 and a Master of Arts in Education from Rhode Island College. She particularly loved ancient history, especially ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology.

Among the many joys in her life, Jan loved animals, reading, the ocean, scary movies, a good bargain, and of course her friends and family. Most of all, she cherished her ten grandchildren. She was deeply devoted to her faith as a dedicated member of the East Greenwich United Methodist Church.

Jan’s community is wide and far reaching. She possessed an incredibly sharp wit and wicked sense of humor. She led her life with empathy, kindness, and a strong Irish whisper. She loved celebrating any occasion with her loved ones and made new friends everywhere she went. Jan will be deeply missed by an enormous circle of friends and family, most especially by her children and grandchildren. To honor her memory, be kind, adopt a pet, or get a library card. Most of all, spend time with the people you love.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 10:00 am at the East Greenwich United Methodist Church, 1558 South County Trail, East Greenwich. A private celebration of life for close friends and family will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, her family asks donations to be made in her honor to the following charities: Children’s Friend of Rhode Island https://childrensfriendri.org/ , East Greenwich Animal Protection League https://heartofri.org/  , East Greenwich United Methodist Church https://www.egumc.org/ , East Greenwich Free Library https://eastgreenwichlibrary.org/ 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hill Skeffington Funeral Home of East Greenwich www.hillskeffington.com