By JOSEPH KELLARD
Mrs. Novick, 49, a kindergarten teacher at School 6 and a 23-year resident of Oceanside, died of natural causes on Jan. 13 at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. Family and friends packed her funeral service at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels in Hewlett. The funeral home's director told Janis's husband, Mitch Novick, that her service was the second-largest in its history. The chapel seats 600, but standing room was required at Mrs. Novick's service. The mourners in attendance ranged from her neighbors and acquaintances to the students she taught in kindergarten over a decade ago to her childhood friends, with whom she never lost touch.
"She made a difference in many, many people's lives," said her husband, who married Janis in March 1993. "I think what touched people so much was that she really cared about people. She would listen to them and help them, and she would go out of her way for anyone. But family always came first."
"Of all the countless lives she touched, she always put her family first," said Jeffrey Chwast, her son from her first marriage. "She was always there for us no matter all the things she was doing at the time."
One such family member is Amy Feibusch, Mrs. Novick's sister, who lives around the corner from the Novick home. Chwast characterized the sisters' relationship as "very close."
"We welcomed each other's children in our home as our own children," Feibusch said. "Whatever they needed, she was always there for them. She helped my children with their school work."
Earning her B.A. from Syracuse University and her master's in early childhood development at Adelphi, Mrs. Novick began teaching nursery school and kindergarten at Camp DeBaun in Oceanside. More than 10 years ago she was hired to teach the school district's kindergarten extension class at School 9E. Later she taught at School 4, and when the full-day Kindergarten Center was opened at School 6, Mrs. Novick was hired there as a full-time teacher.
Among the characteristics most often mentioned by those who knew her was her devotion to and influence on her students and children in general. While she relaxed by traveling, visiting virtually every Caribbean island once and Disney World on several occasions, she spent even her spare time with kids.
"She just loved kids," said her husband. "During her summers she was a division head at Camp DeBaun for many years. She's always welcomed our children's friends into our house like they were ours. Our house was always the place where all the kids would come to."
Rhonda Gelbwasser, principal as School 6, read to the Herald words she highlighted in letters written by parents about Mrs. Novick's impact on their children, among which were "incredible," "amazing," and "inspiring."
Gelbwasser herself described Mrs. Novick as a dedicated, hard-working teacher who focused on challenging her students' minds, who exhibited exemplary responsibility and integrity toward her colleagues and parents, and who worked on projects for school even at home because that was what gave her pleasure.
"We lost a tribute to the teaching profession," Gelbwasser said. "Her students and their parents loved her, and they sorely miss her."
"She was a special lady and an excellent teacher," said Superintendent Dr. Herb Brown. "She kept working through her illness as long as she possibly could, which shows you how dedicated she was."
Last week each school in the district lowered its flags to half staff in remembrance of Mrs. Novick.
Asked to explain the crowd at her funeral, Richard Appelbaum, a cousin of Mrs. Novick, told the Herald, "She had a tremendous ability to make and keep friends for a lifetime, and I think that was due to her genuine care and sincerity. How many of us can say we have one friend we've been able to keep for a lifetime? She had dozens of such friends, which in my mind is unbelievable."
Mrs. Novick is survived by her husband; her son and daughter, Jeffrey and Melissa Chwast; her mother, Thelma Finkelstein; a sister, Amy Feibusch; a nephew, Eric Feibusch, and a niece, Michelle Feibusch.
Mrs. Novick's family established the Janis Novick Memorial Fund to erect either a park bench or playground equipment that will bear her name. Donations can be made to the fund, in care of School 6, and mailed to Mitch Novick, 3446 Fairway Rd., Oceanside, NY 11572.
