John Janssens (Jan) Foley passed away on August 29, 2023 in Norfolk, VA. He was born on June 25, 1932 in Richmond, VA to Francis Harmon and Josephine Kain Foley.

As a boy, he loved growing up on his Uncle Johnny’s farm on the Rappahannock River and enjoyed many different pets. He graduated from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, MD. He was a Catholic priest with the Richmond Dioceses for approximately 9 years serving both the Peninsula and Tidewater areas. He loved working with the youth groups and was in charge of several programs including coaching the Boy’s Youth Basketball team. He met his first wife, Sherry, in Virginia Beach and used his Master’s Degree to become a middle school Mathematics teacher for Norfolk Public Schools. He would also coach the swim team and teach swimming lessons at the community pools during the summer. He married Sherry Alyn Richardson-Foley and they became the parents of Jan Alyn (Foley) Foretich. Jan also became the stepfather to Kevin Hogan and Sherry Ann MacDonald. He was a loving grandfather to four granddaughters to include Julianna Foretich, Katie MacDonald, Rachael Foretich and Rebecca Foretich.

Later in life, Jan met and married his second wife, Mitsuko Curling-Foley, in Newport News, VA. He then became the stepfather to William Curling. He also became a loving grandfather to four grandchildren to include Anna (Curling) Rankin, Amy Curling, Nehemiah Curling and Mykalah Curling. Jan loved boating with his second wife, Mitzuko and they would often go fishing and crabbing together. They loved to have family get-togethers in his backyard where he would serve lots of food including his delicious crab cakes from the crabs they had just caught that day. They also grew many of their own vegetables and loved taking care of his Koi pond.

His family would like to thank the staff of Commonwealth Senior Living Leigh Hall for the excellent care he received over the past few years. Jan will be remembered by all that knew him for his willingness to help others. He would give you the shirt off of his back if you needed it. During his teaching years, he was kindly known and respected as “Mr. Foley” and was a great mentor to many of his middle school students.

The family will have a private service at a later date and he will be laid to rest with his parents in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Richmond, VA.