Janet Anne Muse

Janet Anne Muse of Charlottesville, Virginia passed away on October 16, 2026, after a two-year struggle following a hemorrhagic stroke. She took her final breaths surrounded by her children at the Hospice House on Park Street with her husband Robert holding her hand.

Janet’s journey began on January 15, 1954, at UVA Hospital, born to Carl Franklin “Frank” Muse and Ethel Cooke “Anne” Muse. In the 72 years that followed, she built a legacy that will echo for years, as a talented musician, involved community member, and loving mother and grandmother.

Janet was a renowned pianist in the traditional dance community. She joyfully performed at countless contra and English country dances up and down the East Coast. Still, playing close to home at Greenwood Community Center held a special place in Janet’s heart. It inspired the name of the album she recorded with long-time collaborator, fiddler Mike Dunn. Many waltzes and other tunes Janet wrote have entered the broader repertoire and will continue to be played for years.

Her only regret while performing was that she could not dance at the same time, another activity she loved. It was at one fateful Irish Ceili dance that Janet met the man that would become her husband of 42 years, Robert Walters. He called her his Pretty Lady and they spent those years together not just as spouses and parents, but as best friends.

Alongside Robert, Janet began her most treasured role: mom. For more than a decade, she stayed home to raise her children, a constant presence at swim meets, Girl Scout and Cub Scout meetings, soccer games, and band and orchestra concerts. She patiently lent her talents as a seamstress to everything from creating homemade Halloween costumes each year to sewing the bridesmaid dresses for one daughter’s wedding.

Even after she returned to working outside the home, Janet still found the time to prepare a homemade dinner every night and bake family birthday cakes, drawing on her years as a pastry chef. Late in life, when asked for her favorite compliment, Janet said it was hearing “that I was a good mom.” Through everything she did, she earned that compliment every day.

When her daughters had children of their own, Janet embraced her new role as “Nina,” the name her first granddaughter gave her. She brought the same attentive, caring presence to her four grandchildren and remained a trusted sound board as the oldest grew into adults.

Janet’s care reached far beyond her own family. She dedicated much of her career to helping children, including at the United Way of Greater Charlottesville and Blue Ridge Care Connection for Children. There, she built upon her personal experience parenting a child with a disability to become a lifeline for families of children with severe medical conditions as they sought to navigate a confusing healthcare system.

Everyone who knew Janet will remember her beautiful smile, supportive presence, listening ear, and eagerness to give her time to others. She will be deeply missed.

Janet is survived by her husband, Robert; her sister-in-law, Judith Simon Muse; her children, Kimberly Walters (Elissa), Kurt Walters, and Dawn Hudgins (Rob); and her four grandchildren, Regan Walters, Dara Walters, Laura Hudgins, and Elizabeth Hudgins. She is predeceased by her parents, Frank and Anne Muse, and her brother, Charlie Muse.

A memorial service will be held on November 13, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 Rugby Road in Charlottesville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Janet’s honor to the Country Dance & Song Society or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.