Davidson and Cornelius are mourning the loss of neighbor Janet McFadden, who died April 1 after being struck by a trash truck on South Main Street in Davidson. McFadden had lived in the area for 13 years, and ran Davidson Pet Sitters.
McFadden, 49, was remembered Saturday night at 6 o’clock with a community vigil on the steps of Town Hall. And friends have created a shrine in her memory on the sidewalk in front of Millstone Bake House on South Main Street, just feet from the crosswalk where she was hit while walking two dogs. The shrine has flowers, messages and photographs remembering her.
In a Facebook post, husband Brian Freeman and the Freeman/McFadden family offered a message: “Thank you for all those who came to the candlelight vigil in town yesterday. Though she was a humble person, Janet’s heart would’ve swelled at the amazing outpouring of love and support.”
A memorial service is planned Friday, April 8, at 1:15PM at Beaver Dam Park, 19600 Davidson Concord Rd. Davidson.
Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home in Huntersville is in charge. Details: http://www.raymerfh.com/
Janet Lynn Wisniewski McFadden was born Oct. 12, 1966, in New London, Conn.
She lived in Cornelius and was the owner of Davidson Pet Sitters, where she touched the lives of many people and their pets.
Her obituary (at RaymerFH.com) remembers her this way:
If you live in Davidson, NC and have run into “the dog lady,” then you’ve met Janet Lynn Wisniewski McFadden, born October 12, 1966 in New London, CT. She passed away April 1, 2016 in Davidson, NC while enjoying another beautiful day doing what she loved.
Janet was founder and owner of Davidson Pet Sitters, a business prominent in the Davidson community that touched the lives of many people and pets who often stopped to chat and smile with her throughout the day. She brought joy and levity to her family and children, her dance routines, her yoga practices, her time enjoying local food and craft beers, and gatherings with her friends and neighbors. She is remembered for many things. Her continuous smile that made others smile along with her. Her adventurous spirit that led her to many countries around the world. Her ever-changing soul which was always on the path to new things. One day her favorite color was blue, like the sky, and the next it might be the red of an apple, or the green of ripe vegetables. And she had the incredible ability to take a wonderful idea and turn it into a flourishing business.
Above all, she is remembered for her incredible compassion for her family, people and animals alike. Her spirit is carried on through her husband, Brian Freeman Sr.; her loving parents Stanley and Sally Wisniewski; her four children: Michael McFadden Jr., his wife Gayle Hazard McFadden, their son, Lennox McFadden, and soon to be expected granddaughter; daughters Megan McFadden and Summer McFadden; and son Bryce McFadden. Also, her four children’s father Michael McFadden Sr., two step-children: Brian Freeman Jr. and Corey Freeman; adoptive daughters Ashely Brown and Ella Cleary; three siblings: Gary Wisniewski, David Wisniewski, and Krista Wisniewski Granger; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, her family has started an online fund-raiser to raise a college fund for her fourth child, Bryce, a sophomore at W.A. Hough High School in Cornelius. (See https://www.gofundme.com/trx8eu3h)
McFadden’s business lives on. A message on Facebook reads: “Davidson Pet Sitters is still here to take care of your pets and the animals in care of the Town of Davidson Animal Shelter. ” (See https://www.facebook.com/Davidson-Pet-Sitters-429449770505909/)
RELATED LINKS
April 1, 2016, CharlotteObserver.com, “Pet sitter struck and killed crossing South Main in downtown Davidson”
April 1, 2016, DavidBoraks.net, “Driver charged in death of dog walker Janet McFadden.”
April 1, 2016, DavidBoraks.net, “Pedestrian killed while crossing S. Main St.”
David Boraks 