Janet M. (Uckele) Vajda, 90, of Harrisburg, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026 at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Born in Pottsville, PA on May 28, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Margaret (Willard) Uckele. She was also preceded in death by one sister, Suzanne Wagenmann.

Janet is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, James Vajda; her children James Vajda, Jr. and his wife Maria, Holly Vajda, and Kristen Masengarb and her husband Michael; her grandchildren Robert, Chelsea, Steven and his wife Brittany, Michael, Madeline, and Isabelle; her great-grandson Asher; her sister Diane Pontius and her husband Paul; and brother Charles Uckele, Jr. and his wife Jo; as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Janet was a proud graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School (then called Catholic High School), where she was a member of the cheerleading squad. She was a longtime active member of St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Parish. She was also a member of the Civic Club of Harrisburg, The Ladybugs, and played in her local bridge club with lifelong friends, Mary Anne, Irma, Jackie and many others. She loved traveling the world with Jim and their friends and family, including Gayle and George. She made many memories with her best friend, Dottie almost every Saturday over shopping and lunch dates and enjoyed numerous card games with Tootsie and J.R. Most important to her was her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be deeply missed.

Janet was an incredible woman who has shaped lives in countless ways. Her ninety years were filled with love, wisdom, strength, and devotion, and there are so many that were fortunate to have shared so much of that journey with her.

One of her greatest gifts was her commitment to her faith and her family. She always made family gatherings special and meaningful, creating traditions and memories that her family continue to cherish. The closeness she fostered as a family is one of her greatest legacies.

Janet also taught her family to be strong and independent. Through life's challenges, she demonstrated resilience, determination, and courage. She encouraged her family to believe in themselves, work hard, and face difficulties with grace. The strength Janet demonstrated throughout her life has given her family the confidence to navigate their own paths. She reminded all that life wasn’t easy and not always fun but there was joy and happiness to be experienced.

Janet’s love, wisdom, and guidance have touched generations, and the lessons she imparted continue to shape her family today. We are grateful for every sacrifice she made, every word of encouragement she offered, and every moment of love she shared.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Monday, November 2, 2026 at St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Church, 4000 Derry St, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. A Visitation will take place in the church prior to Mass from 10:00-11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Bishop McDevitt High School at www.bishopmcdevitt.org; or to St. Catherine Laboure Roman Catholic Parish at www.sclhbg.org