Janet Claire Procter Lareau

Janet Claire (Procter) Lareau, of Barrington, passed into God’s hands Sunday, June 4, 2023, at the Garlands of Barrington, Prairie View Skilled Nursing Facility, after a long and brave struggle with age-related dementia and Alzheimer’s.

She was born June 21, 1930 in Chicago (Englewood) to Richard Howard and Noreen Edna (Johns) Procter. Due to the Great Depression, the family was forced to move to Teaneck, N.J., during the 1930s, where Janet attended grade school. During WWII, the family moved back to Illinois where they settled and Janet completed her secondary school years at Evanston Township High School, graduating in 1948. She then attended Rockford College and Northwestern University.

It was while she was attending Northwestern University in the fall of 1951 that she met the love of her life, Pierre James (Bud) Lareau. They were married on the 23rd of February, 1952, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal church, Evanston IL. Of this marriage came six children whom they raised in Morton Grove, Evanston and South Barrington.

In the early 1970’s she started her professional career spanning almost 30 years in the Human Resources Department at Kemper Insurance in Long Grove IL. She rose to the title of Retirement Benefits Manager after obtaining the professional certification as a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist.

Music was her passion. She was accomplished on the piano and as a soprano voice. Starting in high school, she performed in musical plays and operettas in various chorus and lead roles. She wrote the class song for her high school graduating class of 1948 before going on to get her degree in music at Rockford College. After moving to the Barrington area in September of 1970 she became a member of the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church choir. She then joined a performance organization, The New Oratorio Singers, now the Chicago Master Singers, rising to the position of president of the organization for many years. With this prestigious group she traveled to all the capitals of Europe performing classical music of the Baroque period.

Until 2022, when she was unable to continue due to her progressing illness, Janet was a member of the Signal Hill Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Lois Jean Procter Nethery (Robert); and her husband, Pierre James Lareau, Sr., who died the 19th of September 1980.

She is survived by her six children, Elizabeth Procter Recher (Carl); Andre Goddard Lareau (Mary); Richard Alcott Lareau (Sharon); Suzanne Johns Howard (Frederick); Pierre James Lareau, Jr. (Laura); and Barbara Jane Lareau (Carlos Concepcion); 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 from 4 PM until 8 PM at Davenport Funeral Home at 149 West Main Street, Barrington IL. Funeral service is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Thursday, June 8, at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 647 Dundee Ave., Barrington IL, followed by burial at 1 PM at Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie IL.