Terry Janiak

Terry Joseph Janiak, 64, of Derry, NH, formerly of Salem, NH, died on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, at Parkland Medical Center, in Derry, NH, after a hard-fought, ten-year battle against cancer. In hospice care for his final days, Terry passed peacefully in his sleep.

Born in Beverly, MA on May 16, 1951, he was the son of the late John and Betty (Riggs) Janiak. He was raised and attended school in Wakefield, MA, and was a graduate of Wakefield Memorial High School, Class of 1969, where classmates fondly referred to him as 'Hacka.' He went on to graduate from Wentworth Institute, in Boston, MA.

Terry was also a long-time resident of Salem, NH and resided in Derry, NH for the past eight years. Of all the places he called home, he was happiest 'back in the day, at camp' on Cub Pond, in Danville, NH.

He was a beloved, long-time employee at Rapid Sheet Metal, in Nashua, NH, prior to his illness. His co-workers recently honored him with a commemorative plaque at his workstation, designating it as '"Terry's Machine.' He will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues.

Terry was fiercely private and preferred to avoid crowds and gatherings; however, he was a loyal father and friend, who greatly enjoyed the company of his inner circle of special family members and friends. Those closest to him were privileged to know his 'other side' which included a jokester, with a wonderful sense of humor, and the ability to tell a great story. Those closest to him also knew he was a man of deep compassion, always willing to help or teach others, and who was a devoted individual - if he was your friend, he was your friend for life. This is a fact well known by best friends through the years, Gary, Mark, Stevie, and Scott.

He was also a very reflective, deep-thinking individual, who was an avid reader and enjoyed music from the Woodstock era. He admired Bob Dylan and his vinyl record albums were a prized possession. He dabbled in writing and poetry. He also seeked adventure, whether scuba diving from an early age, or riding his beloved Triumph. He was quietly sentimental too; keeping family treasures of old photographs, post cards, and such. In recent years he developed a love for Chinese art, culture, and design, even creating his own large, hand-carved Chinese emblem. Always a 'Jeep' man, he was loyal to the brand, driving nothing else for the past 40+ years.

He leaves his daughter, Alicia Janiak-LaCava of Hampstead, NH and his son, Jesse Janiak, of Atkinson, NH. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Ashley Fletcher, grandson, Liam Janiak, and sister, Paula Oxner, as well as many nephews and nieces.

As Bob Dylan would say, "A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do." That 'in between' was Terry. He lived life on his own terms. The rest of us were privileged that he took us along for the ride.

A visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Avenue, Wakefield, MA on Friday from 5-8pm. Funeral Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to the National Foundation for Cancer Research, The Terry Janiak Rose Fund, http://www.nfcr.org/. Click on ways to give, then donate (In honor of) type in the Terry Janiak Rosse Fund in the honoree name.

November 20, 2015
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

McDonald Funeral Home
19 Yale Ave
Wakefield, MA 01880
(781) 245-3550