Janet Robbins, a.k.a. “Sassy the Clown” passed away on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at the Villages Hospice House after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born on August 20, 1936 in Central Falls, RI, she met and married her now late husband Rob Robbins LT USN (Ret.) on November 5, 1955. Janet was a Navy Officer’s wife who spent her early married years traveling with Rob and raising her four children. When she settled in Coventry, RI, she went back to school earning her Associates Degree as a Registered Nurse. She was a member of St. John & Paul Church in Coventry, RI where she served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. When she retired with Rob in 1992, they moved to The Villages to enjoy their Golden Years. She became a clown with Clown Alley #179 when there were only 12 clowns, and has served numerous roles including Past President and is currently the clown with the most longevity in the club. She also was very proud to tell people that she was the current South Eastern Clown Association Clown of The Year. Her goal in her later years was to laugh, enjoy herself, and bring smiles to other people, which she did all the time. She was a member of St. Timothy Catholic Church in The Villages where she served as a Lector and ran the clown ministry. She is survived by her four children: Karen Baker, North Kingstown, RI, Michael Robbins and his wife Debbie, Anchorage, AK, Sue Robbins and her wife Nancy, Ogden UT, and Kathi Camillucci and her husband Joseph, Taftville, CT. She also leaves her step-sister Elaine Pegnam and her husband Richard, Coventry, RI. She leaves 9 Grandchildren, 10 Great Grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Finally, she leaves behind her sidekick and companion Gabi, her Yorki-Poo, who went with Sassy every week to bring smiles to the faces of patients and families at the Villages Hospice House. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at St. Timothy Catholic Church in The Villages from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. which includes a prayer service at 3 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Timothy on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Villagers for Hospice, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL 32162. Burial will occur at a later date at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell FL.
