Mary Frances (Wiltshire) Janssen

Mary's family invites you to a Visitation for Mary on Wednesday, December 14, 2022,

from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., at Jersey Village Church of Christ Entrance Hall,

8810 Jones Road, Houston, TX 77065.

Mary's Celebration of Life service will immediately follow in the Church, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

A graveside committal service will occur that day from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at

Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079.

Fond memories of Mary and expressions of sympathy for her family and loved ones may be shared

at www.DignityMemorial.com.

Mary Frances Wiltshire Janssen

January 14, 1936 – December 8, 2022

Mary Janssen was born January 14, 1936, to Clyde and Fannie Wiltshire in Kennett, Missouri.

She is preceded in death by her love, Ernest Janssen, her parents, and her brothers, Jack Wiltshire and Bob Wiltshire.

Mary was the youngest of the three children. Jack and Bob were two characters if there ever were any. Both were adventurous, with Bob the ultimate storyteller. He never saw a story he couldn’t tell better than anyone else. Jack was direct and got down to business in a hurry. When Jack and Bob were young, they would team up to “negotiate” Mary out of her Christmas candy. They ate theirs quickly and were ready for more. Those that know Mary will understand that she ate only what she felt she really wanted to eat at that moment, while saving the rest. Jack and Bob, knowing her giving, compassionate nature, soon would have her “sweet talked” out of her candy, too!

Mary saved hers. Some things never change. That must have been when Mary started saving everything that could be saved, even if just info to be written on pieces of paper. In fact, with her lifetime practicing, she became an expert and conservationist in the field of handwritten notes on slips of paper.

Mary was born during the Great Depression, and her family were sharecroppers in Missouri. She was proud of being from the “show me state”. Having said many times that they were poor as dirt, she was referring to the dirt under the cotton they picked themselves. She said, “We didn’t have any money, but the good news was that we did not know anyone else did either.”

As a child, her family moved to the San Joaquin Valley in California because they heard the picking was better there. As many have learned, the grass was not greener on the other side of the country, so they returned to Risco in the boot heel of Missouri. The family worked long and hard, and an opportunity to actually own the land they worked came along. Mary’s father bought 280 acres in Corning, Arkansas, the first land they ever owned. Needing to earn money to get the property “farm-ready”, the family moved to Texas in 1947 to find work. There were jobs in Texas City because workers were needed to rebuild the town decimated by a horrible explosion. On the way, they stopped in Houston to visit Cousin Harry, who said more work could be found in Houston than Texas City. Their journey ended, and they settled in Houston. Although intending to later return to Arkansas to farm, her father passed away shortly after their move to Houston.

At three different times, Mary worked as a stenographer for DuPont. For the youngsters, a stenographer transcribes spoken words into shorthand, a long-lost art. Shorthand was a writing technique used before word processors were thought of. In the past, people had to write things down themselves. Mary was good at writing things down. Mary probably still has the list of Gregg’s and Gary’s 1960’s shoe sizes somewhere in the bottom of that cavernous purse.

Mary met Ernest at a singles event (the forefather of on-line match making!), and six months later, on June 12, 1965, they married at the West University Church of Christ. It was truly a match made in heaven, and they were happily married for 53 years until her beloved Ernest passed in 2019. Mary’s son Gregg was 3 years old when they married, and Ernest's children, Gary and Jenice, were 8 and 10. Mary took to them like a fish to water, considering Gary and Jenice her own. Ernest felt the same about Gregg, and for years was the Manager of Gregg’s and Gary's Little League baseball teams while Mary took on the role of Team Mother. Neither of the boys received a pro contract, but they had fun anyway.

In 1973 at the Jersey Village Church of Christ, Mary watched Ernest, Gary and Gregg get baptized by Eugene Dewveall. Although the water was cold that day, Mary was quite warm with fulfillment. This congregation of people would be her home for the next 50 years. Mary loved working in the nursery cradle roll, doing so long past her own children becoming grown. Mary and Ernest worked hard as the church's janitorial staff for years, doing their best to keep the grounds and building in great shape. They were faithful servants to the Lord and the church. They loved the Jersey Village Church of Christ - and all it represented.

In addition to the church and her beloved friends and family, Mary cared about several other things. Of course, she loved cats (just kidding -- she was not a pet person!). She was also known for her Brown-E Hawkeye Camera with a huge flash bulb that blinded all as she took pictures at Christmas and other gatherings. To the glee of her subjects, she sadly retired that dinosaur camera when they quit making the film and flashbulbs. She and Ernest had fond memories of being with friends in a bowling league for years, as well as gathering with friends at church events, to eat out, or at each other’s homes. (She truly appreciated the thoughtful gifts from them, keeping and treasuring every one.) Her younger son feels certain that another thing she enjoyed was making Gregg eat his okra! (Ernest had grown it in his garden. Yes, they say a woman marries someone like their father, and Ernest was quite the farmer himself!)

Some of Mary’s sayings were, “If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything”, “Haste makes waste”, “Turn off the lights when you leave a room”, and … “Gregg, clean up your act!”

Reminiscent smiles are good. Mary smiled a lot and could often infuse a little laughter into a conversation. But she was especially good at loving people. All would agree her most prominent qualities were that she was a kind, pleasant, faith-filled, thoughtful person. Whether with family, friends, caregivers, service providers, or people she had only begun getting to know, she was always listening, often smiling and sharing, and almost always found a way to compliment or reassure them about their good qualities, encouraging them as to how special they are. While she will be truly missed by all of us here, we are happy that Mary is gloriously happy in her heavenly home, and we will cherish our fond memories of the times with her.

On December 8, 2022, Mary passed away from major health issues that couldn’t be remedied without soon having a risky, painful surgery, with uncertain results. After careful thought, Mary chose hospice. She made it very clear, several times, to her family, doctors and nurses that: She is a Christian, and she was ready to go home to her heavenly Father and to see Ernest and her family already there.

Mary's most cherished friendships were those members of JV Church of Christ, including Pauline & Fred Bankston, Marilyn & Bill Smith, Deanna & Doug McCullough, Barbara & Terry Glenn, and Kathy & Phil Uhrhan.

Mary is survived by 3 children: Jenice Williamson (Ken), Gary Janssen (Brenda), Gregg Lancaster (Eva); by 5 grandchildren: Courtney Hudgins (Neal), Shea Williamson, Tim Janssen (Cody), Becky Hetzer, Lisa Janssen; and by 8 great grandchildren: Audrey, Kate, Brady, Katy, Sam, Ellis, Aiden, Charlotte.

The family gives a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful ladies of this church. The love, work and time in all you did to prepare food and more made this day of celebrating Mary more special and were so very helpful for all of us. The same is true for the leaders and all involved in their beloved church. All of you have blessed Mary's and Ernest’s lives. Special thanks also go to Yolanda Cortez and Charlotte with Visiting Angels. They truly were angels, and Mary formed a close bond and friendship with Yolanda. We sincerely thank Dr. Maher Bishara; Dr. Roger Schultz - their long-time trusted doctor; and the Memorial City Memorial Hermann Hospital doctors, nurses, and staff who assisted in her last earthly days. Better and more compassionate care could not have been given to Mary, and we are so grateful.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary's memory may be made to the Church of Christ in Jersey Village, Building Fund, 8810 Jones Road, Houston, Texas 77065. Mary would say, “Money well spent.”