Janice Christine Castleman

Janice “Jan” Christine Castleman, 86, passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. A resident of Delmar, New York, she was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 19, 1939, to the late Ralph and Rose Lohse. She was a 1956 graduate of Northport High School in Long Island and became a Registered Nurse after completing her studies at the Flower Fifth Avenue New York Medical College School of Nursing in 1959.

While in school, Jan met her husband, Dr. James Castleman. They were married in 1959 and moved to the Albany area to begin medical residency and start a family. They had two children before unexpectedly Dad was drafted in 1966 by the US Army for the Vietnam War as a Medical Doctor. Dad and Mom uprooted their family and spent the next two years serving their country. There were many shared stories of Jan’s involvement with families on base while raising her own young family, long lasting friendships were built and continued via letters, phone calls, and visits long after being discharged from the Army in 1968 and resettling back in Delmar.

Jan experienced serious health challenges beginning in the 1970s to the present day, each time she amazed her family and friends in her ability to regain her health and live her life fully. She was the type of person who never met a stranger, would greet you with a big smile, and learn more about you in five minutes than possibly you knew about yourself. As a lifelong member of the Albany Country Club, the Fort Orange Club, and various organizations, she had many close friendships which she cherished. She loved her golf and bowling leagues and had a pure passion for all things involving gardening. She worked meticulously all year outside and inside to maintain her cutting gardens and landscaped gardens, she could have easily opened a floral shop selling her masterful flower arrangements. While her day-to-day life was vibrant, she took great joy in her later years watching her family grow with grandchildren and great grandchildren, sharing in their dreams and wishes. As an only child, this is the legacy she is most proud.

Jan is pre-deceased by her parents, Ralph and Rose, her husband James, her husband’s twin brother Laurie, and brother-in-law James Goodman.

Survivors include her son Francis Lee Castleman (Bri), daughter Lauren Castleman Bott (Marc), son James Francis Castleman Jr. (Lori), 12 grandchildren Lindsay, James, Liam, Drew, Scarlet, James III, Ian, Madelaine, Sawyer, Keegan, Reese, Kyla and great grandchild Bennett. Her extended family also includes her sisters-in-law Mary Goodman, Valerie Castleman and three nephews Randy, John, and Jimmy.

Our family would also like to express our many thanks and love to Mom’s care givers over the years with special attention to Rakhea “Rocky”, Maria, Pam, and Claudette.

A service and burial will be held at Bethlehem Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (www.mohawkhumane.org).