Janice Maxine Williams

WILLIAMS, Ms.

Janice Maxine

Janice Maxine (Pappin) Williams, our beautiful mother and grandmother, peacefully returned home to Jesus on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025 at the age of 91. Born in Cadillac, Michigan to James and Ilah (Roberts) Pappin on February 3, 1934, Janice was the second of four children. A graduate of Greenville High School, Janice was involved in student government, drama, Latin club, and served as the head drum majorette of the Greenville marching band. Janice went on to Alma College where she led, rain or shine, through four seasons as Head Drum Majorette of the Alma Scots Kiltie Pipe Band, graduating with her bachelor's degree in elementary education and home economics. It was here that she first caught the adoring eye of her future husband, Richard "Dick" Williams. At the time of his passing in 2020, they had shared 65 years of marriage, raising three children and celebrating the arrivals of six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Janice taught Kindergarten and 1st grade for Belding Public Schools and Greenville Public schools. In her high school senior yearbook, Janice predicted that in 1972, she would live "in a cute cottage by a pretty lake". Interestingly, this came true, only the year was the summer of 1968, when they moved from Greenville to a waterfront cottage on Lovell Park in Spring Lake. Janice and Dick later relocated to Fruitport where they built a new home, the second of the three homes that Dick would construct himself for the family, and Janice then chose to work as a full time homemaker. Keeping an organized household and timely meals on the table brought her joy and a sense of wellbeing for her family. Later, Janice went on to service Fruitport Community Schools as a regular substitute teacher in all five of their buildings for over fifteen years.

Janice gave her heart and attention to family first and foremost. Many fun years were spent in the outdoors on road trips, camping trips, hunting trips and along the lakes and river boating every summer. As a member of the Fruitport Congregational United Church of Christ, Janice especially enjoyed the annual Christmas bizarre, crafts and fellowship with her church ladies circle group. Jan and Dick enjoyed an anniversary trip to Hawaii, and for a time, they experienced retired life as snowbirds with a winter home in Arizona. Janice and Dick assisted Janice's aging parents in the construction of a retirement home next door to their own home. With Janice's siblings all living away at a distance, constructing this home next door allowed for Janice to provide care as her parents aged into their twilight years, which was no small task as any who have committed to doing so can attest. Having her parents living right next door was a blessing to the family. Being grounded at home and always available was the most noteworthy gift that Janice provided to her grandchildren. She and Richard would peer out the window daily for the school bus, watching their grandchildren race across the front yard to the back door in anticipation of cookies fresh out of the oven.

Despite some challenging and unexpected health issues, Janice has been a spirited survivor. Enduring traumatic spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed in one leg and overcoming breast cancer did not slow her down for long. She adjusted her lifestyle to her limitations, looking forward to the gift of each new day. Even after Richard's passing, Janice maintained an optimistic spirit and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Keeping up with the daily activities at her retirement home, she was determined to never be beat at bingo!

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, James and Ilah, her brother, Dr. James Pappin and her sister Carolyn (Pappin) Johnson. She is survived by her brother, Dean (Linda) Pappin of Boyne City, her three children Cynthia (and Craig) Hoyer, Rick (and Nancy) Williams and Susan (and Jeff) Baker, her six grandchildren: Jordan, Collin, Autumn, Morgan, Grant, and Kelvin, and her three great-grandchildren with a fourth on the way! Not a day would go by when she wasn't asking about each of her grandchildren, taking immense pride in sharing about each one with any who might ask.

A note of special thanks and heartfelt appreciation goes out to the staff of the Hume Home Assisted Living Facility. Barb and Jackie provided years of selfless loving care, Dawn kept things tidy, and Jenny, whose genuine spirit of service and commitment will not soon be forgotten, was an amazing activities director. Jenny's willingness to devote countless hours and days to decorating the Hume Home for each holiday brought so much joy to mom. She has been so proud to have her "home" decorated so thoughtfully.

With a memorial gathering planned for spring time, the family request that any gifts or flowers be sent directly to the Hume Home on W. Southern Ave, Muskegon in Janice's memory. The Hume Home staff, nurses and aides are true angels of mercy for our most vulnerable population and we are eternally grateful for their commitment when our family needed it most.