Janet Ann Bingel

Janet Ann Bingel passed away on August 24, 2021, just one week prior to her 72nd birthday. She was attended by her beloved husband of 44 years, Gary.
She was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Vivian Pieckiel of San Bernardino, CA. She was survived by her two children and their spouses, Dr. Sara Gaynor (Jeremy) of Baltimore, MD and Dr. Mark Bingel (Kate), of Yelm, WA. She was also survived by her grandchildren Colin Gaynor, Avery Bingel, and Ryker Horning (son of Kate). She was survived by her sister, Theresa Maher (Scott) who resides in Tennessee, and her brother, Steven Pieckiel (Beth) of Florida. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Brian Bingel (Mary) and sister-in-law, Elsa Bingel, as well as her niece and nephews.
Janet was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on August 31, 1949. Her father was active-duty Air Force and she moved around throughout her childhood, even living in the Philippines during part of her high school years. She obtained an Associate's Degree in Accounting from San Bernardino Community College in California. Janet moved to Plattsburgh, NY, where she began work as a switchboard operator at Diamond Paper Mill. It was here that she met Gary Bingel, a Lyon Mountain native, who worked as a maintenance engineer. She was happy to put down roots and looked forward to starting a family. They married in 1976 and had two children, Sara and Mark.
She stayed home with her children until they were both in school, eventually taking a day job at Taco Bell as a cashier while the children were away. She was extremely involved in her children’s lives. She was the videographer and manager for their youth hockey teams and spent every weekend in cold ice arenas. She worked at Taco Bell for 20 years and became assistant manager. She was well known to many in the North Country, and affectionately referred to as "The Taco Lady."
She retired from Taco Bell due to health issues and was happy to join Gary in the sweet life of retirement. They spent time traveling and her favorite retirement “sports” were going to casinos and bingo. They enjoyed going to Maine in September for their anniversary and eating lobster for every meal. Janet’s sister, Theresa, and her husband Scott, frequently met them in Maine.
Janet had a bit of a lucky streak; she enjoyed lottery tickets, slot machines, and she was a regular at Ganienkeh high stakes bingo. She spent her free time entering online contests and had won several large prizes over the years including trips, cash, and merchandise, which she gave to her children. She appreciated a good bargain and instilled this frugality in her children. She was also a talented artist in a variety of media, a skill only known by those closest to her. Janet was known for her quick wit and honest opinion.
She like to get a rise out of people and took her father’s advice to heart, “if you find a good horse, ride it.” She always said that her proudest achievement was the success and happiness of her family. In her later years, she adopted the mantra of "one day at a time," celebrating small victories and appreciating every moment. She faced life’s challenges with a determined attitude. She will be missed by all who knew her.
In honor of Janet’s wishes, her family will hold a private service at a future date. The family would like to acknowledge the excellent care she received throughout her long battle with cancer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fitzpatrick Cancer Center in Plattsburgh, NY.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Brown Funeral Home, 29 Broad St. in Plattsburgh. To express condolences, please visit www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com.