Johanna Wagner Janssen passed away from cancer November 12, 2025, at her home in Wellington, Fla. A former resident of Great Barrington, Mass., and more recently of Wellington, she was born in Vienna, Austria, on September 24, 1939, to Prof. Dr. Hans Wagner and Anna Artinger Wagner. Johanna had vivid memories as a teenager of World War II and the post-war era. She attended school in Vienna, graduating from the Hotel/Business Training and Culinary School.
A love of travel and adventure led her to join Austrian Airlines as a stewardess and then, in 1963, Pan American World Airways. Johanna was very much attached to Pan Am. After her retirement as a flight attendant, she led group tours to China. She also was a long-time member of World Wings, the charitable organization for retired Pan Am stewardesses.
In 1965 Johanna married Werner Janssen, an international lawyer who brought into their family two children from his previous marriage, David and Barbara, whom Johanna referred to as her “bonus children.” Johanna was a world-class cook and hostess, and friends and family enjoyed many happy occasions at the Janssen homes in Manhattan and in Great Barrington.
Johanna’s hobbies—entertaining; playing golf, bridge, and canasta; and attending concerts at Tanglewood—made for a very happy life.
After Werner passed away 10 years ago, Johanna moved to a community in Wellington, Fla., where again she made many friends and was extremely happy.
Johanna is survived by her son the Rev.Dr. David Swift Janssen and his spouse Jeannine, her daughter Barbara Badger Janssen, her sister-in-law Jennifer Janssen Schwartz and her husband Dr. Ken Schwartz, her four grandchildren Carolyn West Janssen, Elizabeth Anne Janssen Persico and husband Michael, Nicholas David Vallas and wife Chanon, and Christina Marie Vallas-Ruszkowski; five great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, and nephews on both sides of the Atlantic. Johanna loved people and they loved her.
Interment will be in the family tomb in Vienna, Austria.
May she rest in peace.
