Before the tabloids and the scandals, Jon & Kate Plus Eight was a terrific family show that frequently included glimpses of the Gosselins’ support system of friends. One of the key members of that group, Janet Weidenheimer, has been reported dead at age 72.
As Kate says in the clip below, “Nana Janet” was a friend of the family, what Kate called a “pseudo-grandparent.” She loved the Gosselin children and took part in lots of family activities, such as this birthday party from the show’s second season:
Described later in this episode as “crazy and loud and fun,” Weidenheimer took the time to get to know the Gosselin children individually and was a big help to Kate as a baby-sitter.
As the series progressed, one of its odd, unexplained elements was that friends such as Nana Janet disappeared from Jon & Kate Plus Eight. It was as though Jon and Kate were isolating themselves as their notoriety increased. For whatever reason, Nana Janet faded from the series. Her memory won’t fade for longtime fans of the show. She always seemed like the nicest woman.
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That clip was sweet – I don’t remember seeing it the first time around, but it very much represents why I have watched this show for so long.
http://www.legacy.com/ReadingEagle/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=135144494 – We Loved you, Aunt Janet. You will be missed dearly.
Oh, for God’s sake, give it a rest. She’s not a celebrity just because she appeared in a few episodes of this reality series. You’re getting paid for writing this useless crap? If it’s a slow news day, just don’t write anything.
Some people care. The internet has unlimited space if you weren’t aware. Do you see this on their cover?
The Internet may have unlimited space, but I sure don’t think Entertainment Weekly has. In fact, the actual print issues are so thin now that I unsubscribed. It’s no wonder, considering that the magazine — and American entertainment as a whole — have turned to crap like this show. Enough already!
Zach, why do you chare what EW puts on their website or not? You’re not paying for the content so just back off. If you don’t like what they’re doing, how they’re managing their magazine or internet site, there is a plethora of sites to choose from.
Well said Mark!
Just because you don’t agree with Zach does not mean he doesn’t have a point. I think comments like his are valuable in that it provides some feedback to EW to try to make them better. Granted, I may not agree with his opinion, but telling everyone who puts a negative comment to leave is actually bad for EW.
Zach -
If you don’t like EW or what it writes (online or in print) then don’t read the columns here and certainly spare us your rants!
No, Zach is right. This show is so lame. These aren’t “stars”.Also, give these poor kids a real life and get them off reality tv. If EW stops reporting on them, maybe these people will go away forever.
your a jerk nana was a wonderful woman she was my best friends grandmother
Why couldn’t she take “Jon and Kate” with her !!!!!!!!!!!
If you have such a problem with this supposed crap, then why are you wasting your time commenting on it. Nana was a human being and seemed to be a wonderful woman at that. Regardless of who the person is they deserve respect. She blessed many lives during her life. Show some respect and keep your mouth shut if you don’t have anything nice to say. I’m sure you would want people to show you respect if someone close to you died. Show them the same respect.
I love Nana Janet and I think she should be remembered. For your information this is not uthless crap it is much more:)
R.I.P. Nana Janet
They stopped showing her for the same reason they got rid of their dogs and other family members – they were taking air time away from Jon & Kate and were no longer useful to the show.
She stopped appearing because she moved to Tennessee. She shows up again later in the series when the family goes to Nashville.
She did not move to Tennessee, she was my real Nana. She went to Jon and Kates house every Tuesday and ironed clothes for them. She went there every week until a few months ago when she became sick. I dont know where you people get the crazy ideas that she moved or whatever but gossip is so overrated. She didnt help them to be on TV, she did it for the kids.
I am sorry for the loss of your Nanna.
yes, if she’s really your nana (sorry, i get so skeptical over posts) i’m truly sorry for your loss. i enjoyed watching those early seasons of jon and kate and your nana was a god saver to them, and truly a joy to watch. selfless and loving. don’t dwell on the ugliness people post. they’re unhappy people who didn’t have nana’s.
Tracie, How very sad I am to hear of the passing of your Nana. She was so kind & loving & the 8 loved her. She was a delight to watch. May God give you strength at this difficult time.
Sorry for any skepticism but you say that you are her grandchild but what you wrote doesnt match what the episodes said; You said that she helped the Gosselins until just three months ago?; well according to the Jon and Kate episodes: They moved a couple hours away from their old home last Oct, so since she lived near the smaller/old home, she drove all the way to the McMansion to help? Also, on the last Christmas episode of J&K, Kate stated that while they were in Tennessee, that Nana Janet and her husband would spend time with the kids since they havent seen the kids since Nana Janet moved? So if the move is not true, then why was Nana Janet in Tenn? Nonetheless, I think that she was a great help to Kate and the Kids and that she had a kind and loving heart that she will be remembered for.
it must be nice to believe EVERYTHING you see on tv. does anyone remember that just a few short months ago J&K allegedly still loved each other — when it turns out, they have been having issues for years.
I am glad you pointed that out. I was thinking the same thing. It is ironic that the post above mocks you for believing what you see on TV when they apparently believe everything they see on the internet. Jerk.
i am the one who “mocks” riley above — i am just pointing out that it goes both ways. i don’t necessarily believe what this poster had to say about being her granddaughter, but i also wouldn’t use what I see/saw on TV to discredit her, either.
Tracie im very sorry for your loss. And I have to say your Nana was a great person to go and help out total strangers, now GOD has another Angel under his wings and for you, you should feel blessed for have a beautiful wonderful person in your life, god bless
Tracie is her real granddaughter and she didnt move to TN wheather u wanna belive this or not they are my friends your all just making things up nana lived here in pa and passed here in pa
Tracie and Dareth, I am so sorry for your family’s loss. I loved watching the episodes with Nana Janet. I bet she was quite a character if the clips we saw were any indication. I know she made me smile every time I saw her.
It was Beverley, another family friend who moved to Tennessee.
It is interesting how their family wasn’t around in the early days when there wasn’t a lot of money or real fame. People make it seem like that was because of Kate but it seems like back then she was just trying to survive and would have liked help from where ever.
Kate has always been an opportunistic whore.
BINGO.
Kate completely alienated both sets of Grandparents.
OK, This is the same Kate who blew off her fathers freinds who donated used, not NEW stuff when the sextups were born. Guess she just needed new thing for help.
The Gosselin family goes to Memphis and Nana Janet drives over to visit them at the Peabody Hotel since she moved to Tennessee.
Nana Janet moved to a different state, they visit her in a later episode. They didn’t isolate themselves from her.
It was Ms Beverly that they visited when they went to St. Jude, not Nana Janet.
Ok, I am Nana’s granddaughter, along with Tracie, we are sisters. I don’t even know why I’m replying to this, because mostly everything people say and what is on TV is not true. Anyways, my Nana and Poppop never moved to Tennessee. I think I would know, they have lived in the same house for awhile now, and have never moved out of Pennsylvania. Jon and Kate lived in Pennsylvania close to my grandparents and then they moved to a town about an hour away right after they had the sextuplets. They then moved back closer to my Nana and Poppop’s house (still in Pennsylvania). Yes, my Nana still would go over to their house (both houses) and do the ironing and help around the house. She was just not on the episodes anymore. My Nana has passed away now so please don’t say anything else about her that is not true! Everyone who knew her loved her and she was so fun to be around!
That wasn’t Nana Janet that was in Tennessee! It was another lady that used to come fold clothes for Kate.
You are so right. It was not Nana Janet but another lady who used to be on the show.
Nana Janet didn’t disappear from the show. If you remember, she moved to Memphis to be close to her kids. There was a whole huge episode where they went to Memphis to see her & visited St Jude’s Childrens Hospital. So sad though. How much more can those poor kids take right now?
That wasn’t Nana Janet in Tennessee. It was Ms Beverly. Nana Janet disappeared during season 3, along with Nana Jane and Beth and Bob.
Gee, will the high and mighty Kate send condolences? I doubt it. Janet was used like everyone else that appeared on that show.
No she has not, Jon did call her husband (who is Mr Bull on the show but is also my poppop) and was going to come their house to visit her when she was ill, but never came. Neither of them came to the funeral.
Again Tracie, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss.Please let Mr. Bull know that there are people who delighted in Nana Janet & that we are sorry for this loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. Your family will be in my prayers.
They stopped showing her because as the insane poparazzi became obsessed with ruining their lives and ruining a good family show, so many of Jon and Kates friends and family stopped coming around. They didn’t want to be hounded by photographers. Its people like all the negative commenters on here that ruin good family shows. Would you rather see shows about strippers and hookers? For Christs sake people, if you have nothing better to do than sit around writing negative comments, then I feel very sorry for you.
It never fails, a show starts to suffer and the net kills off a character!!!
I remeber seeing that episode where she rode a pony at the sextuplts’ second birthday.
There was an episode from last season where they visited her at Christmas. She’ll definately be missed by the Gosselins.
As to why she’s no longer on the show, she moved, to Florida a few years ago.
This is just crazy…There is a family out there (not Jon nor kate) who has lost a loved one…Just let it be…
Nana Janet seems to have been a very loving and fun person to be with. I’m sure that everybody who came in contact with her in one way or another will miss her!