My sister was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in January of 1996. The doctor called her at home to let her know the test results. She called Mom and I still remember the sound my mom made when she heard the news. I did not need to be told. I knew my sister had cancer. She had a rough year with chemo that seemed more deadly than the cancer. But that summer she postponed surgery so that she, Natalie, Russ, Mom and I could go to a wedding in Phoenix, Arizona. It was hot, hot, hot that year running about 117 degrees during the day. We got in the hot tub to cool off since it was only 93 degrees. We had a really good time and made side trips to Sedona (which Janice loved), the Grand Canyon, a mission down near Tucson, and Nogales, Mexico, in spite of how bad she felt.
She was deemed cancer free sometime the next year, but was diagnosed as terminal in April 2006. She did so well with chemo pills and radiation that it seemed she had beat the disease, but by December 2013 we realized that she could not have much time left. In 2014, she and I still managed a couple of Florida trips but by summer we were not sure day to day how much longer she had. Some of us did one more trip in December 2014 and went to Nashville, Tennessee, to see a Kelly Clarkson Christmas concert. After Valentine's Day 2015, she never really felt okay again. She fought cancer with all she had and then some. Nineteen plus years is a long time to fight an illness but it still seems short having to let her go when I expected to get to grow old with her.
My sister's obituary from Shirley Brothers website:
Janice Kay (Sullivan) Walker, 61, died on April 11, 2015 in Carmel. Born in Campbellsville, Kentucky on December 11, 1953, she was a daughter of Huston and Mary Walker (Bryant) Sullivan. By 1956 her family moved to Hendricks County, Indiana where she attended Avon from K – 12 graduating in 1972 from Avon High School.
She married Gary Keith Walker on January 6, 1979. Putting her career on hold to raise their three children, Nathaniel "Nate", Natalie and Russell "Russ" Walker, she was a daycare provider at home and at local churches. She became a licensed real estate agent at Wall & Associates in Clermont, Indiana where she worked for 15 years and enjoyed helping her clients.
She joined St. Luke's United Methodist Church where Gary was a lifelong member. She was very involved in United Methodist Women and the biannual rummage sale serving as co-chair for many years. She was honored by the church in 2014 for her many years of service.
She most enjoyed spending time with family but also had numerous friends who she loved as well. She also enjoyed shopping and vacationing. A vacation trip of a lifetime happened in 2009 when she and her family traveled to Europe.
She loved her twin grandchildren, Lucas Keith and Chloe Elizabeth Walker, beyond measure and so wanted to spend a lifetime being "Grammy Jan" to them.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th St. with funeral services 11:00 a.m. Friday with Dr. Kent Millard speaking.
In addition to her children and grandchildren, Janice is survived by her sister, Julie Sullivan; brother, Allen Sullivan; daughter-in-law, Maggie (Lohr) Walker; son-in-law to be, Jake Smith; mother-in-law, Wanda Walker Zamka and her husband, Conrad Zamka; and other in-laws, nieces, nephews and extended family. Her husband and sister-in-law Kathy Sullivan preceded her in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sheltering Wings, PO Box 92, Danville, Indiana 46122 or to the American Cancer Society, 5635 W. 96th Street, Ste. 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278. Arrangements have been entrusted to Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel. www.shirleybrothers.com.
***
I have been thinking for a few days about what to add in addition to her obituary. I found the last birthday card I gave her in December 2014. This is from the card:
We're Sisters
We're there for each other
during the freak-outs
and OMG moments in life.
We laugh and cry
and curse
and complain
about the things
going on with friends, family,
and life in general.
We burn through
cell phone minutes
chattering about everything
from the boring details
of our to do lists
to the really important
matters of the heart.
We've seen each other
at our best and our worst,
as we shared the ups
and downs of life —
Because we're not just sisters,
we're the best of friends.
For now that sums it up.
My sister was a Find A Grave member. She joined so she could leave flowers for her husband Gary with her own account. She also helped me. Last spring she helped me find a few photo requests in a cemetery next to a hotel in Tennessee where we had spent the night on the way back from Florida. She also helped me find several graves in far away places. The most interesting of those are our great-great grandmother Sopha Polston and Janice's grandparents-in-law Russell and Marion Walker.
She was deemed cancer free sometime the next year, but was diagnosed as terminal in April 2006. She did so well with chemo pills and radiation that it seemed she had beat the disease, but by December 2013 we realized that she could not have much time left. In 2014, she and I still managed a couple of Florida trips but by summer we were not sure day to day how much longer she had. Some of us did one more trip in December 2014 and went to Nashville, Tennessee, to see a Kelly Clarkson Christmas concert. After Valentine's Day 2015, she never really felt okay again. She fought cancer with all she had and then some. Nineteen plus years is a long time to fight an illness but it still seems short having to let her go when I expected to get to grow old with her.
My sister's obituary from Shirley Brothers website:
Janice Kay (Sullivan) Walker, 61, died on April 11, 2015 in Carmel. Born in Campbellsville, Kentucky on December 11, 1953, she was a daughter of Huston and Mary Walker (Bryant) Sullivan. By 1956 her family moved to Hendricks County, Indiana where she attended Avon from K – 12 graduating in 1972 from Avon High School.
She married Gary Keith Walker on January 6, 1979. Putting her career on hold to raise their three children, Nathaniel "Nate", Natalie and Russell "Russ" Walker, she was a daycare provider at home and at local churches. She became a licensed real estate agent at Wall & Associates in Clermont, Indiana where she worked for 15 years and enjoyed helping her clients.
She joined St. Luke's United Methodist Church where Gary was a lifelong member. She was very involved in United Methodist Women and the biannual rummage sale serving as co-chair for many years. She was honored by the church in 2014 for her many years of service.
She most enjoyed spending time with family but also had numerous friends who she loved as well. She also enjoyed shopping and vacationing. A vacation trip of a lifetime happened in 2009 when she and her family traveled to Europe.
She loved her twin grandchildren, Lucas Keith and Chloe Elizabeth Walker, beyond measure and so wanted to spend a lifetime being "Grammy Jan" to them.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th St. with funeral services 11:00 a.m. Friday with Dr. Kent Millard speaking.
In addition to her children and grandchildren, Janice is survived by her sister, Julie Sullivan; brother, Allen Sullivan; daughter-in-law, Maggie (Lohr) Walker; son-in-law to be, Jake Smith; mother-in-law, Wanda Walker Zamka and her husband, Conrad Zamka; and other in-laws, nieces, nephews and extended family. Her husband and sister-in-law Kathy Sullivan preceded her in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sheltering Wings, PO Box 92, Danville, Indiana 46122 or to the American Cancer Society, 5635 W. 96th Street, Ste. 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278. Arrangements have been entrusted to Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel. www.shirleybrothers.com.
***
I have been thinking for a few days about what to add in addition to her obituary. I found the last birthday card I gave her in December 2014. This is from the card:
We're Sisters
We're there for each other
during the freak-outs
and OMG moments in life.
We laugh and cry
and curse
and complain
about the things
going on with friends, family,
and life in general.
We burn through
cell phone minutes
chattering about everything
from the boring details
of our to do lists
to the really important
matters of the heart.
We've seen each other
at our best and our worst,
as we shared the ups
and downs of life —
Because we're not just sisters,
we're the best of friends.
For now that sums it up.
My sister was a Find A Grave member. She joined so she could leave flowers for her husband Gary with her own account. She also helped me. Last spring she helped me find a few photo requests in a cemetery next to a hotel in Tennessee where we had spent the night on the way back from Florida. She also helped me find several graves in far away places. The most interesting of those are our great-great grandmother Sopha Polston and Janice's grandparents-in-law Russell and Marion Walker.
My sister was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in January of 1996. The doctor called her at home to let her know the test results. She called Mom and I still remember the sound my mom made when she heard the news. I did not need to be told. I knew my sister had cancer. She had a rough year with chemo that seemed more deadly than the cancer. But that summer she postponed surgery so that she, Natalie, Russ, Mom and I could go to a wedding in Phoenix, Arizona. It was hot, hot, hot that year running about 117 degrees during the day. We got in the hot tub to cool off since it was only 93 degrees. We had a really good time and made side trips to Sedona (which Janice loved), the Grand Canyon, a mission down near Tucson, and Nogales, Mexico, in spite of how bad she felt.
She was deemed cancer free sometime the next year, but was diagnosed as terminal in April 2006. She did so well with chemo pills and radiation that it seemed she had beat the disease, but by December 2013 we realized that she could not have much time left. In 2014, she and I still managed a couple of Florida trips but by summer we were not sure day to day how much longer she had. Some of us did one more trip in December 2014 and went to Nashville, Tennessee, to see a Kelly Clarkson Christmas concert. After Valentine's Day 2015, she never really felt okay again. She fought cancer with all she had and then some. Nineteen plus years is a long time to fight an illness but it still seems short having to let her go when I expected to get to grow old with her.
My sister's obituary from Shirley Brothers website:
Janice Kay (Sullivan) Walker, 61, died on April 11, 2015 in Carmel. Born in Campbellsville, Kentucky on December 11, 1953, she was a daughter of Huston and Mary Walker (Bryant) Sullivan. By 1956 her family moved to Hendricks County, Indiana where she attended Avon from K – 12 graduating in 1972 from Avon High School.
She married Gary Keith Walker on January 6, 1979. Putting her career on hold to raise their three children, Nathaniel "Nate", Natalie and Russell "Russ" Walker, she was a daycare provider at home and at local churches. She became a licensed real estate agent at Wall & Associates in Clermont, Indiana where she worked for 15 years and enjoyed helping her clients.
She joined St. Luke's United Methodist Church where Gary was a lifelong member. She was very involved in United Methodist Women and the biannual rummage sale serving as co-chair for many years. She was honored by the church in 2014 for her many years of service.
She most enjoyed spending time with family but also had numerous friends who she loved as well. She also enjoyed shopping and vacationing. A vacation trip of a lifetime happened in 2009 when she and her family traveled to Europe.
She loved her twin grandchildren, Lucas Keith and Chloe Elizabeth Walker, beyond measure and so wanted to spend a lifetime being "Grammy Jan" to them.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th St. with funeral services 11:00 a.m. Friday with Dr. Kent Millard speaking.
In addition to her children and grandchildren, Janice is survived by her sister, Julie Sullivan; brother, Allen Sullivan; daughter-in-law, Maggie (Lohr) Walker; son-in-law to be, Jake Smith; mother-in-law, Wanda Walker Zamka and her husband, Conrad Zamka; and other in-laws, nieces, nephews and extended family. Her husband and sister-in-law Kathy Sullivan preceded her in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sheltering Wings, PO Box 92, Danville, Indiana 46122 or to the American Cancer Society, 5635 W. 96th Street, Ste. 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278. Arrangements have been entrusted to Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel. www.shirleybrothers.com.
***
I have been thinking for a few days about what to add in addition to her obituary. I found the last birthday card I gave her in December 2014. This is from the card:
We're Sisters
We're there for each other
during the freak-outs
and OMG moments in life.
We laugh and cry
and curse
and complain
about the things
going on with friends, family,
and life in general.
We burn through
cell phone minutes
chattering about everything
from the boring details
of our to do lists
to the really important
matters of the heart.
We've seen each other
at our best and our worst,
as we shared the ups
and downs of life —
Because we're not just sisters,
we're the best of friends.
For now that sums it up.
My sister was a Find A Grave member. She joined so she could leave flowers for her husband Gary with her own account. She also helped me. Last spring she helped me find a few photo requests in a cemetery next to a hotel in Tennessee where we had spent the night on the way back from Florida. She also helped me find several graves in far away places. The most interesting of those are our great-great grandmother Sopha Polston and Janice's grandparents-in-law Russell and Marion Walker.
She was deemed cancer free sometime the next year, but was diagnosed as terminal in April 2006. She did so well with chemo pills and radiation that it seemed she had beat the disease, but by December 2013 we realized that she could not have much time left. In 2014, she and I still managed a couple of Florida trips but by summer we were not sure day to day how much longer she had. Some of us did one more trip in December 2014 and went to Nashville, Tennessee, to see a Kelly Clarkson Christmas concert. After Valentine's Day 2015, she never really felt okay again. She fought cancer with all she had and then some. Nineteen plus years is a long time to fight an illness but it still seems short having to let her go when I expected to get to grow old with her.
My sister's obituary from Shirley Brothers website:
Janice Kay (Sullivan) Walker, 61, died on April 11, 2015 in Carmel. Born in Campbellsville, Kentucky on December 11, 1953, she was a daughter of Huston and Mary Walker (Bryant) Sullivan. By 1956 her family moved to Hendricks County, Indiana where she attended Avon from K – 12 graduating in 1972 from Avon High School.
She married Gary Keith Walker on January 6, 1979. Putting her career on hold to raise their three children, Nathaniel "Nate", Natalie and Russell "Russ" Walker, she was a daycare provider at home and at local churches. She became a licensed real estate agent at Wall & Associates in Clermont, Indiana where she worked for 15 years and enjoyed helping her clients.
She joined St. Luke's United Methodist Church where Gary was a lifelong member. She was very involved in United Methodist Women and the biannual rummage sale serving as co-chair for many years. She was honored by the church in 2014 for her many years of service.
She most enjoyed spending time with family but also had numerous friends who she loved as well. She also enjoyed shopping and vacationing. A vacation trip of a lifetime happened in 2009 when she and her family traveled to Europe.
She loved her twin grandchildren, Lucas Keith and Chloe Elizabeth Walker, beyond measure and so wanted to spend a lifetime being "Grammy Jan" to them.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th St. with funeral services 11:00 a.m. Friday with Dr. Kent Millard speaking.
In addition to her children and grandchildren, Janice is survived by her sister, Julie Sullivan; brother, Allen Sullivan; daughter-in-law, Maggie (Lohr) Walker; son-in-law to be, Jake Smith; mother-in-law, Wanda Walker Zamka and her husband, Conrad Zamka; and other in-laws, nieces, nephews and extended family. Her husband and sister-in-law Kathy Sullivan preceded her in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sheltering Wings, PO Box 92, Danville, Indiana 46122 or to the American Cancer Society, 5635 W. 96th Street, Ste. 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278. Arrangements have been entrusted to Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel. www.shirleybrothers.com.
***
I have been thinking for a few days about what to add in addition to her obituary. I found the last birthday card I gave her in December 2014. This is from the card:
We're Sisters
We're there for each other
during the freak-outs
and OMG moments in life.
We laugh and cry
and curse
and complain
about the things
going on with friends, family,
and life in general.
We burn through
cell phone minutes
chattering about everything
from the boring details
of our to do lists
to the really important
matters of the heart.
We've seen each other
at our best and our worst,
as we shared the ups
and downs of life —
Because we're not just sisters,
we're the best of friends.
For now that sums it up.
My sister was a Find A Grave member. She joined so she could leave flowers for her husband Gary with her own account. She also helped me. Last spring she helped me find a few photo requests in a cemetery next to a hotel in Tennessee where we had spent the night on the way back from Florida. She also helped me find several graves in far away places. The most interesting of those are our great-great grandmother Sopha Polston and Janice's grandparents-in-law Russell and Marion Walker.
Inscription
Married
January 6, 1979
Life's race well run,
life's work well done,
life's victory won.
We love you Dad & Mom
Nate,
Natalie
& Russ
