Elva Jane Janosik

What can be said of memories - they are just fleeting in time. Good memories however, are the ones that help you live everyday to its fullest.

Elva is the greatest person I have ever known. She is a tremendous friend and wife with personality, integrity, humor, common sense, and a love for life.

Elva was born April 6, 1949 in Lake City Tennessee, the daughter of Bart Slover and Anna Mae Duncan Slover. She was the first of 4 brothers and 1 sister. As the oldest sibling, she learned quickly how to cook, sew, wash clothes, and help take care of her brothers and sisters and even work on cars.

Elva married Lonnie Edward Hatmaker December 1966, the father of Kelly DeWight and RaMona Vanessa Hatmaker. Lonnie died June 9, 1974.

Elva married Daniel Joseph Janosik October 4, 1974 at the First General Baptist Church in Hammond Indiana officiated by Rev. Charles Jerry Turner Sr. She lived in Hammond Indiana, Romeoville Illinois, Columbia Tennessee, Nashville Tennessee, and Old Hickory Tennessee during their marriage.

Elva has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

Elva was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Romeoville Illinois. Elva sang in the choir, chaperoned youth activities and sports events for Bible Baptist Christian Academy, and supported church functions.

Elva loved dogs. She had 6 dogs while married to Dan. Her first and favorite dog was Tiffany II a Toy Poodle. Her next dog Taxi was an Old English Sheep Dog. The third dog Huffer was a Great Dane. Her next dog Arnie was a St Bernard - Beagle mixed. Her last 2 dogs Austin and Pepper were English Bull Dogs. She loved each one.

Elva was a Country Music fan. Her favorites are too many to mention but Carl Smith, David Ball, Vern Gosdin, Ronnie Milsap, Connie Smith, and Waylon Jennings top the list.

Elva was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys football team and rooted for Tom Landry when he was the coach. She loved watching the Cowboys play in the Superbowl and won a lot of friendly bets against Dan's team.

Elva became lifelong best friends with Janet Smith. Janet has two boys, Paul and Mike. Our families became and still are good friends with each other.

Elva worked full time while raising her family. Her primary occupation was Computer Operator. Elva went to school and received a Certificate of Computer Operations from Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Illinois. She was employed in Computer Operations by Hyundai Motor Company, Electronic Data Systems, and Huett Packard to name a few throughout her career. She retired from Huet Packard in 1998 to become a stay-at-home grandparent for her grandchildren.

Elva is the person that put her family first above herself. She was always there thinking of how she could do something for you - not her. Everybody will have their memories of this.

For me, I was always number one - of course along with the kids and grandkids. She knew what we really wanted and needed and for sure got it done.

She was strong willed and took charge of the situation - no mincing of words. I remember onetime her and I were discussing something she wanted done; Kelly said: "just do it dad - she's going to win that conversation anyways".

Elva was very intelligent but I didn't realize that until after I done something and then said: "I wish I listened to you". That mistake was corrected in later years for obvious reasons.

Elva was an elegant lady. She prided herself in being clean, neat and orderly and wanted that for her family too. She was always looking for a new clothing fashion, of course for herself and her family, and of course at discounted prices. We shopped Penny's Outlet, Nicks Auction, and Sears Outlet to name a few. The next day we wore our new clothes and realized we really needed them.

Elva loved to remodel the house. She was the queen of wallpapering. She would wallpaper a room and do border trim by herself with professional results. I remember her wallpapering in Romeoville, Columbia, and Nashville ceiling to floor. Of course a little pre-work would have to be done first - like removing a wall. She would tell Kelly "dad says it's ok to knock that wall down while he's at work". Kelly asked: "are you sure" and she said yes. I would come home with the wall gone and the light sockets dangling for me to finish up. Actually it was a project her and I agreed on and I was procrastinating as usual.

Elva loved to work in the yard. She would plant and grow beautiful flowers, Rose Bushes, and hanging plants. She was always out there pulling weeds and landscaping. The yard looked warm and inviting all summer. In Columbia Tennessee, she would ride our big tractor with the 6 foot pull behind cutting deck during the day to mow some of the 6 acres we owned. She would then head to the swimming pool and lay on a mattress for sunning. After that she would go to work on night shift.

Elva loved Jeeps. The first one was a 1979 CJ7 brand new. We bought it on her 30th birthday. We drove it over to her Brother David's house in Hammond to go four wheeling with David and Sharon and her niece Shannon in David's brand new CJ5. We both got stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out. Her favorite saying was: "here I sit on my 30th birthday stuck in the mud". David and us drove our jeeps to East Tennessee to go 4 wheeling with her dad Bart and her brother Tommy and his wife Shirley. One time David's jeep broke down in the woods and was being pulled by Bart's Jeep J-10 pickup truck. Our Jeep was in the lead when we came to a fork in the path. Not knowing which way to go we slowed down. Bart didn't want to lose momentum and rammed our jeep to the left to let us know which path to take. That dent can be seen in the front grill of the J10 today. Over the years Elva bought and owned multiple jeeps: CJ5's other CJ7's and Wranglers. Even now Elva wanted to buy one of the new 4 door Jeeps. RaMona takes after Elva: She drives a Jeep Wrangler - like mother like daughter.

Elva also liked fast cars. She owned a 1970 Mach 1 Mustang. We owned a 1971 Chevelle Super Sport, 1974 Dodge Challenger, 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass GMO edition, 1987 IROC Z-28, and a 1985 Pontiac Trans Am convertible as examples. Elva loved to really drive those cars. RaMona and Kelly both take after her with their vehicles. RaMona drives her "RAIL" down the quarter mile racetrack and Kelly soups up his Jeeps and trucks with high performance Chevy 350 V8s for driving.

Elva loved her kids and grandkids. She was all in for them. Casey's first words to her were "MiMi". She then became MiMi to all her grandkids and great-grandkids and even us. She loved having Daniel and Jada spend the night at our house and do things with her. The grandkids were her pride and joy.

Eva loved taking vacations. I remember taking vacations with Kelly and RaMona and then Casey and Daniel to Daytona Beach in Florida. We made it a big deal. We would leave out and then stop at a certain rest area for lunch on the picnic tables. We then drove to a certain motel just before the Georgia - Florida line where we would swim and spend the night. The next day we drove to our hotel on Daytona Beach and rented the same kitchenette room 200 so we could do breakfast and lunch in the room. I remember the first time Daniel swam across the pool by himself with MiMi watching. I remember Elva taking Kelly and RaMona and then Casey and Daniel to the ocean. I remember walking on the beach with her and sunbathing.

Elva would visit her sister Judy and brother Bart Jr. and her nieces and nephews while at Daytona Beach - our favorite vacation spot. We had fun talking about everything and visiting with Donald, Judy's husband and Sherri, Bart Jr.'s wife. Once the hotel was evacuated for a hurricane and we had to stayed at Judy's house.

Elva and I would drive to Alabama to visit her brother Danny and his wife Carole and see her nieces. She enjoyed talking with Danny and Carole and their kids.

Elva and I took a vacation by ourselves in 1999. We started going to Florida in our Geo Metro convertible and ended up driving down Main Street Las Vegas Nevada. We were being called Fred and Wilma by the truck drivers on Interstate 10. We were going to Florida on vacation and, as it happens, Florida had forest fires and Interstate 75 was shut down. We started driving west to New Orleans and got a motel for the night. The next day we got up and drove through Texas accomplishing Elva's dream of seeing Texas. We drove all day every day. We then set our sights on Kingman Arizona where mom and dad had property and got a Motel. On the way to Kingman we stopped at Fort Huachuca, Arizona where Dan took training in the Army. The next day we then decided to drive route 93 and go to Las Vegas Nevada. To our surprise we drove right across the Hoover Dam before reaching Vegas. We drove through the main strip in Vegas with the top down looking at all the sights and returned to our motel in Kingman. The next day we checked out and drove Interstate 95 to Needles California. It was time to head home and we turned the car East on Interstate 40 and, with the sun setting in our rear-view mirror, headed back to Tennessee

Wow! once you get started the good memories keep flooding in non-stop with too many people, names, and circumstances to mention.

In her retirement, Elva was content to be a homebody and stay in her beautiful home with me. We really enjoyed each other's company and deeply loved each other. We were very happy just being together and watching TV together.

The greatest victory in Elva's life is that she is a born again Christian. Elva accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in August 1975 at Bible Baptist Church in Romeoville Illinois and was baptized January 4, 1976 with Dan, Kelly and RaMona as a family. She sang in the church choir on Sundays. She exhibited the fruit of the Spirit to everyone. She became the prayer warrior for the family. John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

To be truthful, I can't get along without her and terribly miss her.

The things that will get me through is that Elva is in heaven with Jesus and the good memories.

From Kelly:

Mom, how do I start? Besides I love you and miss you. Leys go back to 1974 when my father died it was a tragedy. Everyone said you should move back to East Tennessee and raise your kids as a widow and you said no I deserve more and my kids deserve more than me. That's when you married my new dad and I'm good with that. Actually I'm great with that. He's my best friend.

Thank you

You always told me that proof is in the pudding. Do not do anything without getting all the facts and I based my life on that. I always check to see if I do something what's it gonna cost me.

Or my family

Because mom, you always told me sometimes financial loss will cost you but family cost will cost you nine times much more.

Ok I will get off my soapbox I love Amy and my grandkids and I love you most of all and Dan and Lonnie.

He called both men, made me who I am today with your permission lol mom I love you and miss you.

From RaMona:

Halloween:

Mom would come up with the coolest ideas for costumes. We did not need to buy any. She would search the house for items to use and it was always cool. Her imagination was awesome.

Christmas:

Mom always went above and beyond for Christmas. She would decorate the entire house and even though there were lots of gifts under the tree from her and Dad (and Santa) my favorite thing was always the stocking she must have shopped for months to fill and it was always full to almost busting the seams with all the things I loved most: markers, pencils, color books, stickers, paints, etc.

Shopping:

Every year at least 2 or 3 times she and I would have girls day and we would start out early and go to the outlet stores. She would buy lunch at my favorite places and we would be gone all day. So much fun trying on all kinds of crazy clothes and hats and buying some cool stuff for the house and ourselves.

Cooking:

Mom was such an awesome cook. She could give MacGyver a lesson on how to make a huge meal for 4 out of just a handful of items from the pantry. I would look at that same pantry today and say ok. Pizza it is there is nothing to eat.

I remember going to the zoo with Janet and boys in the summertime and she would make the best egg salad sandwiches and bring her amazing potatoe salad. That potato salad was a summertime staple in our house. She would make a giant batch and I remember I would grab a spoon and take a big bite everytime I would go to the kitchen for anything. She would make so many batches of that stuff all summer long. I have tried to duplicate it but no luck.

She would try to get me to learn cooking by leaving instructions on the counter for me when I would get home from school (like peel potatoes, shuck corn, chop up stuff, etc.). The one thing that I remember most was the time she left instructions for me to skin chicken for dinner and after over an hour of my trying and crying she came home to find only 1 was started and I had made a real mess of it: She was cool and just showed me the best way to do it and then tossed out the chicken (because it would have made us all sick) and whipped up some other great meal for us and told me ok we will try again someday together. I will say to this day I only buy boneless skinless chicken. I never did master that technique she made look so easy. Another one is she left me in charge of a huge pot of Navy beans. All I had to do was make sure to keep water in it..Fail..I was so into reading that I forgot. She was pretty angry but she knew cooking was not going to be a strong trait for me and she was happy that the only reason I let it burn was because I was educating myself not just goofing off.

From Janet:

How I met my best friend Elva:

We both lived in Romeoville. At that time I had a long driveway. Elva was walking Tiffany. My dog Duke ran down the driveway to meet Tiffany and he really scared Elva.

After that I was at the park on another day with my 2 sons Mike and Paul and she happened to come to the park with Kelly and RaMona. We started talking and the kids were playing together. We had so much in common. Little did I know that we would be the best of friends.

I always said that we're not just best friends but more like sisters.

But I miss her so much. We still stay in touch with Dan and visit him.

From Dan Kelly RaMona:

We thank Jesus you are in our life. The four of us made a great family with you as wife and mother. You are the best person in the world. You were always there for us. We love you. We miss you. We will see you in Heaven.

From Casey

I love you MiMi.

From Daniel

The world knew her as Elva Jane Janosik. She is a loving wife, loving mother, dear sister, honest friend, but most importantly, she was my MiMi.

Growing up I always wanted to go to MiMi's house. Like any grandparent to grandchild, I could do no wrong and had almost unlimited freedom, but it was the time we got to spend together that meant the most to me. From going to all her doctor visits, to every aisle of Goodwill, every day being a pool day, and the countless cherry limeades at Sonic. There was no better feeling when someone seen us and MiMi would refer to me as her "running buddy". I had no clue what that meant at the time, but today, its one of my favorite titles that she gave me.

MiMi was a straight shooter, and I don't just mean her shot of Gentleman Jack on the rocks! She would tell you her honest opinion even if it wasn't what you wanted to hear. I like to think that's where I get my honesty from. MiMi taught me to be who you are and not change just because one person may not like it.

One of my favorite memories is when MiMi took me to get my hair cut and let me choose how I wanted it, I was 7. She let me get my hair cut into a spikey mohawk with green hair gel. When we left the barber, she put her top down on the Trans AM, turned up Kenny Chesney, I put my Wild Wild West sunglasses (from Burger King) on, and we just cruised around all afternoon. Some teenage girls pulled up besides us and were loving my new hair! MiMi told me don't be shy and wave at them. Of course, I was too shy, but felt on top of the world.

As I got older, more friends, girlfriend, and a job, my life was busy as a teenager/young adult. Working two jobs, going to school, and trying to have a social life consumed just about all my time. It never mattered how busy I got, when I stopped by MiMi's house, it was like I was just there yesterday! We would watch tv, and just hang out anytime I went there.

When I brought Kerrie over to MiMi's house for the first time, MiMi gave me her "o.k." for her to be my girlfriend, even though we were already dating for 6 months. As Kerrie came over more and more, MiMi loved her more and more. Which was a validation I didn't know I needed. As life went on, Kerrie was diagnosed with several medical conditions. I talked to MiMi about those and come to find out, almost everything Kerrie was diagnosed with were the same things that MiMi had that I helped her with growing up. MiMi looked over towards at me towards the end of our conversation and said, "Guess you guys are meant to be, you already have practice taking care of someone with those things".

MiMi loved her family with her whole being so much, that she didn't want anyone knowing what was happening to her in her last several weeks. Not because she was hiding it, but because she didn't want to scare or have her loved ones worry. When she looked at me and said she was at peace because she knew where she was going, it struck me with grief but relief. The pain of a woman who hid it for the sake of her loved ones would be cured when welcomed home by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Thankfully, Charlee was able to meet her and still remembers her to this day, and the other grandchildren that came after her departure, have the best angel guiding them as well as the rest of us.

From Jada

MiMi

First I want to start it out with you were the biggest blessing God could have ever gave to me. When I was little you used to take me out for special days where we would go shopping and get food and ride in the Trans Am with the T-tops off and those were some of the best memories in my life. Even when you dressed me in overalls and took pictures under the Elephant Trees.. Or when you and Daniel taught me how to swim, even to ride a bike.. No matter where life took me and what path I chose you always had my back and remained the same day in and day out. One of my last but most cherished memory with you was that I was going through something and was very upset and you looked at me and said "I wouldn't be MiMi without my Jada." I wish I could get one more Christmas to bake cookies and sing Strawberry Wine in the kitchen with you. I love you more than this world can imagine. I'll always be your baby girl.

* * * * * * * * * *

Elva Jane Janosik passed away December 17, 2020. Elva will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved her family and that was her priority through her life. Mrs. Janosik spent her free time homemaking, babysitting her grandchildren, cooking and gardening.

She is survived by her loving husband of 46 years Daniel Joseph Janosik; son Kelly(Amy) Hatmaker, Daughter RaMona (Lee)Davis, grandchildren Casey (Jessica)Hatmaker, Daniel (Kerrie) Hatmaker, Jada Stange; great grandchildren Jordyn Hatmaker, Cailsey Hatmaker, Jacob Hatmaker, John Hatmaker, Charlee Hatmaker and Lucas Stange-DeHorny; sibling Judy Ann Boles, David Slover, Bart Slover Jr., Tommy Slover and Danny Slover; sister in laws Diane (Tom) Sullivan and Kathy (Rick)Perry, also many nieces nephews and a large extended family.

There will be a Gathering of Family and Friends on Monday, December 21, 2020 from 4:00-8:00pm at Hermitage Funeral Home. Second visitation on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 from 10:00-11:00am. Following visitation, a Celebration of Life will begin at 11:00am in the Tulip Grove Room at Hermitage Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Hermitage Memorial Gardens.