Janis Frankie

Janis Jean "JJ" Frankie passed through the gates where her heavenly Father was there to greet her on Sunday June 2, 2024 at the SBL Willow Breeze Hospital house in Mattoon IL.

Janis was welcomed into this world 85 years ago on April 6, 1939 by her parents. She was born in the family home on S Tanner St in Rantoul IL. She was the first-born child of Wallie and Edythe Louese (Lohmiller) Frankie.

Janis was preceded in death by her parents, Wallie and Louese (Lohmiller) Frankie, and two brothers, William Joseph Frankie, and Wayne Thomas Frankie. Janis is survived by her brother Clyde Wallie (Jane) Frankie of Westfield IL, her sister Elizabeth Jane Frankie of Rantoul IL, and her sister-in-law Kathleen A Frankie of Indianapolis IN.

Janis grew up as a military dependent and attended three high schools, Rantoul Township High School, Manilla Arkansas High School, and graduated in 1958 from Gosnell Arkansas High School. As a military dependent she enjoyed living in several different states while her father served in the US Air Force for 23 years, and especially enjoyed living in Nagoya Japan between 1948-1951 as a child.

Janis dearly loved her family. She was a daughter, sister, and aunt to many, including 3 nephews Matthew W. (Katy) Frankie and their children (Emily, Annabelle, Madelynn, Chloe, Lydia, Violet, Noah, Tessa, Judah, and Malachi), Scott A. (Branda) Frankie and their children (Carter and Camden), and Thomas M. (Erin) Frankie and their children (Silas, Audra, and Jocelyn), and 1 niece (Sara E. Frankie).

Janis work history included working at a childcare business (Kiddie Korner) and, a local florist shop in Rantoul. She also worked for ten years at K-Mart in Champaign IL from 1965 to 1975 running the pet department and outdoor garden center. She then opened and operated her own flower shop on S. Tanner St in Rantoul IL (JJs Plant Shop) from 1975 to 2011. Janis loved working with plants and flowers. She enjoyed writing letters, sending cards, taking care of her many house plants, eating out, watching movies, musicals, and like her father, never missed a chance to watch a John Wayne western movie. She was a cat mom to many over the years, most recently an orange tabby named Sammy for 19 years. Janis enjoyed collecting anything with butterflies, beanie babies (that she used to decorate her walker with) and lots of knick knacks that she also sold at her plant shop. JJs favorite hymn was "Here I am Lord". Janis was a member of the Rantoul First United Methodist church, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Illinois.

There will be no funeral services, cremation will be handled by Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center 710 N. Neil ST. Champaign, IL. 61820. Memorial donations can be made to the Willow Breeze SBL Hospice House in Mattoon IL, Hospice Hearts Animal Rescue, or a charity of the donor's choice.

Janis spent her last 3 years residing at Brookstone Estates assisted living facility in Rantoul, Illinois. She will be dearly missed by her family.

Please join her family in sharing memories, photos and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com