January 5, 1935 – January 31, 2026
When Janet was very young, her family moved from Boise, Idaho to Salt Lake City, Utah where Janet entered school and completed 11th grade. Her senior year, the family moved to Seattle, Washington. Janet was given the option to stay and finish high school in Utah but moved with the family to Seattle. She completed high school there and went on to attend the University of Washington completing a degree in Music Education. She later went back to school and obtained a Master’s degree in Organ Performance.
It was at university that she met Robert D. Loy. They married soon after graduation and remained married for nearly 60 years.
Janet taught piano lessons from home when her two daughters, Alicia Ann and Margaret Elizabeth, were small but eventually returned to classroom teaching at several schools in the Portland area. She and Robert both retired in the 1990s. For several years after her retirement Janet volunteered at Portland Art Museum as a docent focusing primarily on outreach to schools.
Janet and Robert were very active in their church, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, and in various musical organizations in the Pacific Northwest. They were both founding members of the Early Music Society and Janet continued to participate in many musical groups until her death. She was the Secretary for Cascadia Viols and loved attending viola de gamba workshops in Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. She also sang with the group, ISing up until recently. Even after she could no longer perform with them, she attended concerts and supported all her musical associations.
In addition to music, Janet and Robert enjoyed travel and took numerous trips to Europe and Costa Rica, and enjoyed several cruises.
Janet loved all the Arts and remained passionate about visual art and music all her life, inspiring the young and adults. She was warm and generous with her friends and family with a lively sense of humor and an easy laugh; frequently placing herself as the brunt of the joke. Quick with wit and quick with laughter.
Janet was preceded in death by her beloved Robert and her daughter, Alicia Ann. She is survived by her daughter Margaret, granddaughter Emily Loy great-granddaughters Ryily and Madison, and her sister, Beverly Day.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 21st at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. John The Baptist Church, Cascadia Viols, Portland Baroque Orchestra, or the charitable organization of your choice.
If you would like to make a donation to Cascadia Viols in Janet’s memory, you may click here.
Join us for our next workshop with Caroline Nicolas
Exploring the French Chanson with Sermisy & Janequin
Saturday November 1, 2025 | 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
$55 for Members | $75 for Non-Members
The 16th-century French chanson was the “pop music” of its day, and it still delights musicians today. This workshop will focus on the genre from a performer’s perspective. We will work on both musical and technical ideas, with the goal of bringing out the expressive nuance and charm of this repertoire. Of particular focus will be Claude de Sermisy (c. 1490-1562), Clément Janequin (1485-1558), as well as Josquin des Prez (c. 1455-1521) and Jean Mouton (1459-1522). This session aims to deepen the student’s understanding of polyphonic phrasing, ensemble skills, and bow control.
The Viola da Gamba in Oregon
The mission of Cascadia Viols is to encourage the appreciation, study, and performance of the Viola da Gamba and related music in Oregon and SW Washington.
We sponsor workshops and other events promoting all sizes of viols. Everyone is invited to join: beginners, accomplished amateurs, professionals, teachers, composers and people who enjoy listening to the large repertoire of the viol.
Workshops
Our workshops are accessible to viol players of all levels.
Our presenters bring not only their viol expertise, but also their musical knowledge. Each workshop centers around a musical theme.
Our in-person workshops begin with the Grand Consort in the morning, where you’ll play one or two pieces with all workshop attendees. In the afternoon, you will be put into smaller groups based on your self-rated skill level. In both groups, you’ll have the opportunity to work on your ensemble skills.
Join Cascadia Viols
We have a number of workshops every year, and a quarterly newsletter with music and news of interest to the viol community. Our online workshops are free to members, and our in-person workshops are available at a reduced fee.
Membership is $35 per year.