Janice,
Hi Janice, today is the day you passed away 16 years ago. I remember when I went to your funeral and I was pregnant with my son Josh, (he was due two weeks later but I begged my dr to let me go to Ohio to see you, which was an 8 hr drive). I remember growing up and even though you were strict with all of your kids and me too when I came over; you were still the one that always wanting to do fun things. You always included me when you took Jean, Robert, Vicki, Mark and Dale to: Lake Milton, Idora Park, Canfield Fair, Silver Park for fireworks or a picnic or other celebrations and fun places. You also went overboard for Christmas, we always got the most presents from you. Christmas eve you and Lewis always brought tons and tons of gifts over for us to open the next morning. I always loved how fun things brought out the "kid" in you. And you and Lewis were always remodeling our house for us. And I am thinking that was mom and dad's Christmas gifts. Like putting in a new stainless steel kitchen sink and putting in a big sliding kitchen window in place of an old door and little window. I know there were more, but those stuck out in my mind. You took Kerry and Sheri in when they needed a place to stay and you also took care of mom when she was super sick, you took her in to your home to make sure she had the best of care. You had the biggest heart and cared so much for others. I am sorry I didn't see that as a kid growing up. As a kid, you were a big sister, but you were my "second mom" you included me in all your family events and I came to believe that Jean, Robert and Vicki (and later on Mark and Dale) were my brothers and sisters, not nieces and nephews. I learned that as I grew up, and mom was gone, that I relied on you for all the motherly advice. When I was pregnant for all my sons, you and Karen were always there for me to help with any questions I had. If it wasn't for the two of you, I would have been lost. I remember when I was pregnant with Nathan and lived in Indiana you and Lewis came down and took me and Bonnie out to eat. That was so nice of you, but I felt really bad cuz as I was getting out of the car to go home, I had "morning sickness" inside the floorboard of the backseat.