Janet Woonacott

Janet Woonacott was a warm and friendly woman and although she could seem a bit gruff on the outside, inside she was filled with a heart of gold. She possessed a quiet strength that was her constant companion, even when engaged in the fight for her life. It was clear to see that Janet met her soul mate when she met her husband Larry and that the children who became her own were her greatest gift. Never one to shy away from speaking her mind, Janet always had a listening ear available and also gave the best advice. A truly kind and compassionate woman, she touched the lives of many in such a significant way. As the Great Depression continued, 1937 still found our nation deep in the throes of hardship as jobs were scarce and those who did have work, were working for over half of what they were paid prior to the depressions onset. Workers were unhappy and this was overwhelmingly clear since between September of 1936 and May of 1937, nearly half a million workers had taken part in sit-down strikes across the country. Amidst this difficult year, Edward and M. Grace (Dann) Holman were overjoyed with the birth of their daughter, Janet Ann, on January 14th. Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Janet was joined in her family by her older brother, Martin. She was raised in the family home on Turner Avenue on the east side of the city. Janets father worked at Lakey Foundry while her mother worked at Chans Restaurant in downtown Muskegon. Because both of her parents worked, Janet learned to be independent, a skill that would serve her well throughout her life. She had a close relationship with her Grandma Bazzett who was always cooking something delicious on the old wood stove. As a teenager, Janet worked at a soda fountain and with her earnings, she diligently paid off a debt she owed for a radio she had previously purchased. Handling finances well was something Janet was always proud of. Life took an unexpected turn when Janet became pregnant as a senior in high school. She was dating a young man named Kenneth Burr whom she married after she was forced to quit school. Janet gave birth to a son they named Kenneth Jr., but he sadly died when he was several months old. The couple lived on the east side of Muskegon and after 16 years of marriage, Janet and Kenneth divorced. Having established a strong work ethic as a young girl, Janet worked hard throughout her life. She found work as a short order cook in several local restaurants including Big Bobs on Third Street in Muskegon. As the years went by, Janet became an excellent cook. Her career later took her to the Rendezvous Restaurant in Grand Haven where she worked as a cook for 21 years. An extremely efficient cook, Janet could have eight omlettes and a dozen eggs cooking on the grill at the same time and make doing so look effortless. She had regular customers who requested that she cook their meals, and it was not uncommon for Janet to come out of the kitchen to visit with the customers, too. Although Janets work was very important to her, nothing was of greater significance than the life she shared with the love of her life. She met her soul mate one fateful evening when he came into the Clover Bar after a night of bowling with his friends. His name was Larry Woonacott and they hit it off right away. They dated for three years before getting married on November 11, 1978. Janet moved into his home on Pennoyer Avenue in Grand Haven where she would live throughout the rest of her life. Larry was a single father to four teenage children who Janet embraced as her own. Although both Janet and Larry were fully capable of being two independent individuals, once married, they were the perfect illustration of what it means to be one with your spouse as this concept infiltrated every aspect of their lives. With Janet around, life was usually full of fun times. They took trips up to the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, and one unforgettable camping trip with the children where a run-in with snakes put an end to any future camping trips! Janet and Larry also visited casinos at times where they tried their luck at the slot machines. They were both pretty good left handed bowlers who were on leagues through the years, and their home was a refuge to both large and small dogs, cats, and parakeets since Janet was an animal lover. She even liked feeding the birds and squirrels in the yard and would often talk to them, too. There was nothing more important to Janet than her family. She passed along her independent spirit to her children, always helping them overcome whatever challenges they faced. Janet was even like a second mother to many of her younger co-workers at the restaurant, offering them advice and wise counsel. She adored her grandchildren later in life and loved spending as much time with them as she could. They always knew that they could count on their grandma to buy whatever they were selling through their latest fundraiser. When Larry suffered a brain aneurism in 2000, Janet retired from the restaurant in order to care for him at home. He recovered nicely and the couple continued to have an active social life with friends and family. In 2004, Janet was diagnosed with lung cancer. She bravely underwent surgery and chemotherapy, maintaining her positive attitude and never feeling sorry for herself. After enjoying a few years free of cancer, Janets cancer returned in 2009 and if recovery were based on will alone, she certainly would have been victorious. In many ways, Janet Woonacott was a true gift to those around her. She was loving and kind, genuine and wise. Janet rarely thought about herself, but focused her life on caring for those around her whether her family, her friends, or those within her community. She never took one day for granted and lived each moment she was given to the fullest. Janet leaves behind a treasure trove of memories that will remain forever near and dear to the hearts of many. Janet A. Woonacott died on Thursday, October 14, 2010. Janets family includes her husband, Larry; daughters, Jan (Steve) Akey of Zeeland, Darci Woonacott of Grand Haven; sons, Robert (Jodi West) Woonacott, James (Kim Taylor) Woonacott, all of Grand Haven; grandchildren, Christopher, Jennifer, Robert, Jordan, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ashley, Jozalin, Justin; great grandchildren, Taylor, Adriana, Preston, Zander, Jakayla and her family pets. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Kenneth; granddaughter, Megan; brother, Martin. A service will be held on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 1:00 p.m. at the Clock Chapel-Grand Haven with Pastor Jerald Poehl officiating. Visit with Janets family and friends on Tuesday, 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Grand Haven location Grand Haven, MI. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to Hospice of North Ottawa or Harbor Humane Society.