She was born July 30, 1945 in Kewanee to Emery and Ila (Burwell) Thurston. She married Al Jennings, her high school sweetheart, on January 4, 1964 in Bradford, IL.
Also surviving are her three daughters, Kami (Mike) Doubet of Peoria, Michelle (Thomas) Frantik of Ft. Worth, TX, and Betsy (Dennis) Tipsword of Metamora; eight grandchildren, Chase and Emma Doubet, Katelyn, Thomas A., and Elizabeth Frantik, Jordan (Grant) Wood, Derek and Tayler Tipsword; one brother, Dean Thurston of Michigan; two sisters, Josephine Tucker of Peoria and Nancy Leadley of Princeton, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Joanne Homann and brother-in-law, John Homann.
Janice and Al spent the last 54 years together sharing their lives with their family and countless friends. Janice’s greatest accomplishments included being a wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She and Al also built and operated a successful business together for many years. Her greatest passion was her eight grandchildren. She spent endless hours enjoying their multiple activities. She had a great love for all children. She was a member of First Free Methodist Church in Peoria, where she lovingly served in many different capacities in the children’s ministry as well as other roles within the church. Her legacy will live on in all the children she loved and cared for.
A funeral service will be on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 1:00 pm with visitation one hour prior to the service at Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association and Richard L. Owens Hospice Home. Words of comfort can be shared with the family at www.woolsey-wilton.com.
