I wrote the following obituary for my mom. It was published in the Niles Daily Star at
Janet Anne Personette, 73, of Niles, passed away peacefully at her daughter, Pauline Hyatt's, home on Saturday, October 6, 2018, with her family by her side.
Jan was born on September 24, 1945, in New York City and at the age of about 6 months she was adopted by Paul and Pauline (Hefner) Steele. Her biological mother is Isabel Theresa Kohler (1913-1978). Her Find A Grave memorial is #64841276 Isabel was Paul Steele's sister-in-law... I was able to identify Jan's biological father through DNA and even show her a photo about 10 months before she died. I will not list his name as he has a daughter that is still living.
When Jan was about 9 years old she and her parents moved from South Bend, Indiana to the Twin Lakes area in Dowagiac, Michigan. She graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1964. She moved to Chicago in her early 20's, living there only a few years. Moving back to Dowagiac in 1966. Jan went on to wed William Earlywine Duffey and then Joseph "Ted" Kella and raised two children, Teddi and Reeni. The two later divorced and Jan wed Richard Personette and the couple had one son, Trenton Andrew Personette.
She remained there, raising her two daughters. She was a school bus driver for Dowagiac Schools for 18 years and a member of the Twin Lakes Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. In 1986 Jan moved to Long Island, New York with her son, where she lived until 1990. Jan and her son then moved to Huntington, Indiana, but they did not remain there long. Just two years later, in October 1992 Jan moved to Niles, to live with her daughter, Teddi, and her love of Niles began! She worked at WNIL part-time up until about 6 months before her death.
Anyone who knew Jan knew she was unpretentious and loved the color purple. I am sure she is in Heaven campaigning to have purple wings. You would instantly know this because she most likely would be wearing the color from head to toe, literally, every single day. She was affectionately known as the "Purple Lady". Many would say that you could tell Jan was a community activist because within a few minutes, of meeting her, she would have probably tried to recruit you for a cause. She is most likely up in Heaven already asking someone to help with a cause or asking them for a donation sporting her purple coat and purple hat. You could also tell that she was a passionate, unconventional, woman who had a fire in her soul. Jan was a champion for Niles and the south county area. Her family said Jan would tell them, "You should watch the news at six tonight." And they would tune in and find out she was being interviewed about something. She attended any meeting she could, she put everything she had in to her little town. Yet, no one knows the extent of every activity she did, because she was never one to brag or boast about the wonderful things she had accomplished.
Jan's love of history drew her to become an early member of the local interest group, Support the Fort, Inc., which helped sponsor a major archaeological excavation on the Fort St. Joseph site, which began in 2002. Jan volunteered at many of the Fort Saint Joseph archaeological events, open houses and outdoor museums. She was also an active participant in Rendezvous events as a re-enactor, dressing as an 18th century woman, and she participated in the living history village. Her son, Trenton, would participate with her. Gradually Jan's interests and volunteerism spread to a number of groups, organizations and causes in the Niles community. We really don't know when she slept… Since 1992 she has been an active force in the community. She was a board member for the Ferry Street Resource Center, a member for the past 8 years of the Niles Optimist Club—a board member and even becoming president of the Niles Optimist Club in Oct 2017 but she had step down due to her illness in March 2018, Four Flag Area Chamber of Commerce—Where Jan was a 2015 Volunteer of the Year Nominee and received the 2015 Niles Voice of Care Award, Berrien HRN, Berrien County Democratic Women's Group, Downtown Development Authority, Elder Care Alliance, Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery—She was one of the early members where she spent countless hours photographing headstones, transcribing obituaries, and helping the public with searches, Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Project—she was responsible for getting the new, larger, granite monument near the Fort Saint Joseph archaeological site erected and donors to pay for it. Hunter Ice Festival, Niles Community Development—where she passionately worked to someday have "tiny houses" made available in Niles, Niles Community Gardens, Niles History Center/Fort St. Joseph Museum, Friends of Niles District Library—where Jan was credited with the idea for the Historical Marker postcard set with QR codes on them to lead to a map of the historical marker's location, Niles YMCA, Niles Salvation Army, South County Democrats, and the United Way—Where Jan received an award that recognized her efforts to serve the Niles community.
When it came to speaking up for the Niles community Jan was a self-proclaimed "Squeaky wheel" and challenged city and state leaders to do more for the constituents. She would call and write legislators and attend meetings when possible to get her point across. In 2016 she influenced the county treasurer to open up an office in the south county court house for better access to Berrien County residents in the Niles area of the county. Jan was also a well-known advocate to State Senator John Proos. She attended Niles City Council meetings for many years and worked at voting locations during elections. We affectionately called her the "mini mayor" because she always knew what was going on in town. The real mayor, Nick Shelton said, "I was told early on, 'You need to have the Purple Lady on your side!' And that's when I met Jan."
Throughout her life she has many other passions, along with her purple passion. When she needed a blood transfusion in September she stated that she donated 11 gallons of blood throughout her lifetime. She was a talented artist—she loved to make unique homemade presents. She was a former member of the Niles Art Association. She loved to read and was a member of the Foodies Book Club. She had an acting bug and participated in local plays. She adored her grandkids—even the ones she didn't see often. She loved family history and she was an active member of FindAGrave.com. She was a Chicago Cubs fan, had been to a number of games and yelled at the TV too many times to remember! GO CUBBIES!
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Mary Rose Steele, her dogs Cookie, Dandelion, Tess, and good friend, Theadora Esther Neumann, whom she named her oldest daughter after.
Jan is survived by her children, Theadora "Teddi" (Albert Fuller) Kella of Niles, Pauline "Reeni" (Larry) Hyatt of Niles, and Trenton (Sandie Kohltfarber) Personette of Coeur' D'Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Taylor, Alexi Fuller, Dale, Cloey, Aaren, and Kaleb; granddogs, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Shady, and Dudley; brother, John (Janice DeRosa) Steele of Mineola, New York; close personal friends, Pat Rockhill and Gloria "Jean" Watson as well as many extended family members and close friends.
To show support of Jan and her purple passion, everyone is encouraged to wear purple to Jan's visitation and funeral. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at Brown Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral service and celebration of Jan's life will be held on Thursday, October 11th at Brown Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m.
A funeral fund has been set up to help Jan's children and in lieu of flowers donations may be made by calling the funeral home, mail a donation to 521 East Main Street, Niles or by visiting
Go Fund Me site for Janet Personette's End of Life Funds:
~~~~~
October 2, 2018
Go Fund Me to raise end of life funds
by Kelsey Hammon-Niles Daily Star
NILES — Residents who have been to a city council meeting or Four Flags Chamber of Commerce event have likely made contact with Jan Personette.
Clad in a shade of iconic purple, Personette with her shortly cropped gray hair and spectacles did not necessarily stand out as a force to be reckoned with, but the self-proclaimed "squeaky wheel" was not afraid to challenge her city and state leaders to do more for their constituents. In doing so, the Niles resident, has inspired countless changes in south county, from aiding local charities with hours of volunteer service to influencing county leaders to bring resources closer to home.
Because Personette focused on giving back to her community, her family needs donations to prepare for her end of life expenses. They have started a Go Fund Me page and they are asking the community to give back.
"While donating her time to causes she believed in, she failed to think about herself," the post reads. "With her diagnosis coming suddenly we, her children, are unable and not prepared to pay for her final expenses."
Personette's family is hoping to raise about $6,000. As of Monday afternoon, the Go Fund Me campaign had raised about $1,345 and generated quite a bit of response from the Niles community.
Tyanna Weller, the former president of the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, donated to the cause. She said she has worked with Personette for about three years. Personette was a volunteer at the chamber for more than 10 years and helped in the office and at community events. Through Personette's volunteer work, Weller saw how passionate she was about the Niles community.
"Jan was just a tiger," Weller said. "She was a powerhouse who fought for Niles. The people in south county do not feel like they get enough services and things. Jan always pushed."
Personette was a presence at a number of charity organizations throughout Niles, including the Niles Salvation Army, Optimist Club, Ferry Street Resource Center and the Niles Main Street Downtown Development Association. She also dressed as a historical re-enactor, taking part in the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological open houses during the summer.
But her fiercest of advocating tools for her community seemed to be her voice.
"She spoke to legislators, she would write letters, she would make calls, she would show up whenever there were legislative meetings," Weller said. "She just went to everything that she could to help the community. She really believed in Niles. She really loved Niles and wanted to help everyone there have a better life."
Personette's efforts paid off. During a public meeting, she approached Bret Witkowski, the county treasurer and advised that he find a way to bring a treasury office to Niles so that residents did not have to drive to St. Joseph to take care of their business.
"After thinking about it, 'I was like, yeah you know what, you're right,'" Witkowski said. "To expect people from the Niles and Buchanan area to constantly drive to St. Joseph: not fair."
Because of Personette's influence, Witkowski decided in 2016 to open up an office in the south county courthouse on Front Street in Niles. The office is open every Tuesday and is always busy, he said. By providing easier access to Niles residents, Witkowski said he believes it has not only been a convenience, but a significant impact.
"I think because of that, the number of people in Niles that are on payment plans [who] avoided foreclosure jumped dramatically," Witkowski said.
Personette was also a well-known community advocate to State Sen. John Proos.
"Our communities are stronger, our communities are more vibrant and our communities are more loving when you have somebody like Jan, who has continued to be a part of all that is good in the greater Niles community," Proos said.
From ribbon cuttings to community meetings, Personette sought out Proos to provide suggestions for positive change in her community and often encouraged him to attend events, such as the Fort St. Joseph open house.
"She always insists that I look at issues with a broad lens and understand what the people of the Niles community are saying," he said.
Since starting the Go Fund Me, Personette's daughter Teddi Kella, of Niles, said her family has been touched by the outpouring of support. Kella said she knew her mother had accomplished a lot, but had no idea the scope of her efforts.
"For years we have jokingly called her the "Mini Mayor" because she always knew what was going on in town or what was going to be happening," Kella said. "We are so proud of her."
Personette has two other children, Pauline Hyatt, of Niles and Trenton Personette (Coeur' D'Alene), of Idaho.
Personette claimed several awards recognizing her commitment to the community. In 2015, United Way of Southwest Michigan recognized her with a Giving award. That same year, the chamber made her Volunteer of the Year.
With her efforts in mind, Weller said she hopes to see the community give back just as Personette did. "She gave her heart and soul and her time to every cause she could," Weller said. "Everything she had, she gave to the community."
~~~~~
October 9, 2018
Niles mourns the passing of The Purple Lady
by Howard Dukes- South Bend Tribune
NILES — Both Nick Shelton and Greg Nasstrom used one word when describing Janet Anne Personette. Passionate. Personette, a woman who loved her adopted hometown and threw herself into many volunteer efforts, died Saturday after a long illness. She was 73.
Since moving to Niles in 1992, Personette was a frequent face at Niles City Council meetings, often dressed in her trademark purple. She volunteered and served on the board of directors of a host of agencies including the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, the Niles Optimist Club, the Ferry Street Resource Center and the Niles History Center/Fort St. Joseph Museum.
"She was the perfect example of what a citizen should be, and that is involved," said Shelton, who is mayor of Niles. "She was passionate and vocal, and she was not afraid to express her opinion and she would go to bat for people in our community who were less fortunate."
Nasstrom, executive director of the Ferry Street Resource Center, one of the many agencies that benefited from Personette's volunteer efforts, agreed. "She was very passionate about helping people," Nasstrom recalled. "She was a board member and a volunteer and she cared very much about people's needs."
Theadora "Teddi" Kella, one of Personette's three children, said the family saw that passion close up. However, the children did not realize the depth of their mother's commitment until her illness progressed to the point that she could no longer volunteer.
Kella said that Personette didn't talk much about her volunteer work. "She was very loving and caring and worked very hard her whole life," Kella said. "She really tried to give us everything. "She was a single mom from the time I was 9, and she took us everywhere and tried to give us educational experiences."
~~~~~
Oct 10, 2018
Remembering Niles' purple lady
by Kelsey Hammon- Niles Daily Star
NILES — During their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, members of the Niles City Council paid homage to longtime volunteer and community advocate Jan Personette.
Personette passed away Saturday after a battle with stage four cancer. She was known to many community members for her many volunteer endeavors, including the Niles Salvation Army, Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, Ferry Street Resource Center, Support the Fort and the Optimist Club, to name a few.
Council members and residents alike who attended the meeting paid homage to Personette by wearing her favorite color: purple. Personette was often clad in purple clothing and was known to many in the Niles community as "the purple lady."
Personette religiously attended city council meetings and was apt to share with city leaders her thoughts and ideas for making Niles a greater place to live. In her honor, the meeting included a moment of silence for Personette. Mayor Nick Shelton then presented a certificate of appreciation to recognize Personette's efforts. The award was given to her daughters Teddi Kella and Reeni Hyatt.
Shelton described how he was told he needed the "purple lady" on his side. In 2015, he said he and Personette's friendship began. She would often hold impromptu discussions with Shelton while he was working at Shelton's Farm Market to give him an inside scoop into the happenings of the Niles community. "
"She was a friend of the community and a friend of mine," Shelton said. "I can say that we will definitely miss her."
Council members who had known Personette throughout the years also said they had come to know her tenacity and love for her city of Niles. Council member Gretchen Bertschy said Personette provided insight to her while she was new to her role as council member. "We are going to miss her," Bertschy said. "Her advice was always spot on."
Council member Bob Durm said he had known Personette for about 26 years. Though she had passed away, Durm said council members would continue to feel her presence at council meetings in spirit. "Jan's love of the city of Niles was unparalleled," Durm said. "She will still be here. She will be here every meeting, we will feel it."
~~~~~
October 11, 2018
Jack and Jan prove opposing viewpoints don't make enemies
by Ambrosia Neldon- Niles Daily Star
This week has been a sad one for Niles and greater southwest Michigan, as the region has said farewell to two of the greats. Even in their passing, Jack Strayer and Jan Personette are teaching us lessons.
Niles area residents know Jack for his giving spirit and political activism. He was an advocate for many causes, the most notable including health reform, the Berrien County Youth Fair Expo Arena, the Niles Education Foundation and Trinity Episcopal Church.
Jack's political career began in 1976 when he joined the campaign for Congressman David Stockman as campaign manager. Jack's roommate at the time, Congressman Fred Upton, describes Jack as a "an extremely good writer" that he has always viewed as "Mr. Niles."
In the years following the Stockman campaign, Jack continued writing speeches, columns, seminars and policies in Washington D.C. and various other parts of the country. When Jack returned home to Niles in 2008, he continued to share his political viewpoints and his strong passions for his hometown in a column titled "Speaking for Experience" in the Daily Star.
Another Niles activist, Jan Personette, passed over the weekend. Anyone who has attended a city council meeting, Four Flags Chamber of Commerce event or downtown Niles festival in the last 20 years has likely come to know Jan as "the purple lady."
Like Jack, Jan was vocal about her political beliefs and was apt to share her advice for improving the city she loved. She was a champion for providing medical marijuana to those who needed it. She was constantly looking for ways to help those less fortunate through affordable housing options, localization of government offices and numerous volunteer efforts.
I got to know Jan well through her letters to the editor, encouraging fellow Daily Star readers to take a closer look into issues she felt strongly about. In addition to "the purple lady," Jan was referred to by many as "Mrs. Niles." Sound familiar?
As I've reflected on the passing of two friends this week, I've learned an important lesson. Though their paths may have only minimally crossed, Jack and Jan were strikingly similar individuals. They were champions for positive change in their hometown. They both not only recognized the challenges in their community, but set out to do something about them.
Other than some dabbling over party lines to support friends running for office, Jack and Jan were virtually political opposites. Jack put his heart and time into conservative efforts, while Jan's advocacy was more liberal.
Put simply, Jack and Jan shared a common love — a love for their hometown — and a common goal: making Niles a better place to live. They had different ways of getting there, but they both made lasting changes that the city of Niles and greater southwest Michigan area will reap the benefits of for decades to come.
Jack and Jan are proof that regardless of our political beliefs, if we feel strongly enough about a positive outcome, positive change will come.
Thanks for the lesson, Jack and Jan. Niles will miss you both.
Janet Anne Personette, 73, of Niles, passed away peacefully at her daughter, Pauline Hyatt's, home on Saturday, October 6, 2018, with her family by her side.
Jan was born on September 24, 1945, in New York City and at the age of about 6 months she was adopted by Paul and Pauline (Hefner) Steele. Her biological mother is Isabel Theresa Kohler (1913-1978). Her Find A Grave memorial is #64841276 Isabel was Paul Steele's sister-in-law... I was able to identify Jan's biological father through DNA and even show her a photo about 10 months before she died. I will not list his name as he has a daughter that is still living.
When Jan was about 9 years old she and her parents moved from South Bend, Indiana to the Twin Lakes area in Dowagiac, Michigan. She graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1964. She moved to Chicago in her early 20's, living there only a few years. Moving back to Dowagiac in 1966. Jan went on to wed William Earlywine Duffey and then Joseph "Ted" Kella and raised two children, Teddi and Reeni. The two later divorced and Jan wed Richard Personette and the couple had one son, Trenton Andrew Personette.
She remained there, raising her two daughters. She was a school bus driver for Dowagiac Schools for 18 years and a member of the Twin Lakes Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. In 1986 Jan moved to Long Island, New York with her son, where she lived until 1990. Jan and her son then moved to Huntington, Indiana, but they did not remain there long. Just two years later, in October 1992 Jan moved to Niles, to live with her daughter, Teddi, and her love of Niles began! She worked at WNIL part-time up until about 6 months before her death.
Anyone who knew Jan knew she was unpretentious and loved the color purple. I am sure she is in Heaven campaigning to have purple wings. You would instantly know this because she most likely would be wearing the color from head to toe, literally, every single day. She was affectionately known as the "Purple Lady". Many would say that you could tell Jan was a community activist because within a few minutes, of meeting her, she would have probably tried to recruit you for a cause. She is most likely up in Heaven already asking someone to help with a cause or asking them for a donation sporting her purple coat and purple hat. You could also tell that she was a passionate, unconventional, woman who had a fire in her soul. Jan was a champion for Niles and the south county area. Her family said Jan would tell them, "You should watch the news at six tonight." And they would tune in and find out she was being interviewed about something. She attended any meeting she could, she put everything she had in to her little town. Yet, no one knows the extent of every activity she did, because she was never one to brag or boast about the wonderful things she had accomplished.
Jan's love of history drew her to become an early member of the local interest group, Support the Fort, Inc., which helped sponsor a major archaeological excavation on the Fort St. Joseph site, which began in 2002. Jan volunteered at many of the Fort Saint Joseph archaeological events, open houses and outdoor museums. She was also an active participant in Rendezvous events as a re-enactor, dressing as an 18th century woman, and she participated in the living history village. Her son, Trenton, would participate with her. Gradually Jan's interests and volunteerism spread to a number of groups, organizations and causes in the Niles community. We really don't know when she slept… Since 1992 she has been an active force in the community. She was a board member for the Ferry Street Resource Center, a member for the past 8 years of the Niles Optimist Club—a board member and even becoming president of the Niles Optimist Club in Oct 2017 but she had step down due to her illness in March 2018, Four Flag Area Chamber of Commerce—Where Jan was a 2015 Volunteer of the Year Nominee and received the 2015 Niles Voice of Care Award, Berrien HRN, Berrien County Democratic Women's Group, Downtown Development Authority, Elder Care Alliance, Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery—She was one of the early members where she spent countless hours photographing headstones, transcribing obituaries, and helping the public with searches, Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Project—she was responsible for getting the new, larger, granite monument near the Fort Saint Joseph archaeological site erected and donors to pay for it. Hunter Ice Festival, Niles Community Development—where she passionately worked to someday have "tiny houses" made available in Niles, Niles Community Gardens, Niles History Center/Fort St. Joseph Museum, Friends of Niles District Library—where Jan was credited with the idea for the Historical Marker postcard set with QR codes on them to lead to a map of the historical marker's location, Niles YMCA, Niles Salvation Army, South County Democrats, and the United Way—Where Jan received an award that recognized her efforts to serve the Niles community.
When it came to speaking up for the Niles community Jan was a self-proclaimed "Squeaky wheel" and challenged city and state leaders to do more for the constituents. She would call and write legislators and attend meetings when possible to get her point across. In 2016 she influenced the county treasurer to open up an office in the south county court house for better access to Berrien County residents in the Niles area of the county. Jan was also a well-known advocate to State Senator John Proos. She attended Niles City Council meetings for many years and worked at voting locations during elections. We affectionately called her the "mini mayor" because she always knew what was going on in town. The real mayor, Nick Shelton said, "I was told early on, 'You need to have the Purple Lady on your side!' And that's when I met Jan."
Throughout her life she has many other passions, along with her purple passion. When she needed a blood transfusion in September she stated that she donated 11 gallons of blood throughout her lifetime. She was a talented artist—she loved to make unique homemade presents. She was a former member of the Niles Art Association. She loved to read and was a member of the Foodies Book Club. She had an acting bug and participated in local plays. She adored her grandkids—even the ones she didn't see often. She loved family history and she was an active member of FindAGrave.com. She was a Chicago Cubs fan, had been to a number of games and yelled at the TV too many times to remember! GO CUBBIES!
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Mary Rose Steele, her dogs Cookie, Dandelion, Tess, and good friend, Theadora Esther Neumann, whom she named her oldest daughter after.
Jan is survived by her children, Theadora "Teddi" (Albert Fuller) Kella of Niles, Pauline "Reeni" (Larry) Hyatt of Niles, and Trenton (Sandie Kohltfarber) Personette of Coeur' D'Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Taylor, Alexi Fuller, Dale, Cloey, Aaren, and Kaleb; granddogs, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Shady, and Dudley; brother, John (Janice DeRosa) Steele of Mineola, New York; close personal friends, Pat Rockhill and Gloria "Jean" Watson as well as many extended family members and close friends.
To show support of Jan and her purple passion, everyone is encouraged to wear purple to Jan's visitation and funeral. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at Brown Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral service and celebration of Jan's life will be held on Thursday, October 11th at Brown Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m.
A funeral fund has been set up to help Jan's children and in lieu of flowers donations may be made by calling the funeral home, mail a donation to 521 East Main Street, Niles or by visiting
Go Fund Me site for Janet Personette's End of Life Funds:
~~~~~
October 2, 2018
Go Fund Me to raise end of life funds
by Kelsey Hammon-Niles Daily Star
NILES — Residents who have been to a city council meeting or Four Flags Chamber of Commerce event have likely made contact with Jan Personette.
Clad in a shade of iconic purple, Personette with her shortly cropped gray hair and spectacles did not necessarily stand out as a force to be reckoned with, but the self-proclaimed "squeaky wheel" was not afraid to challenge her city and state leaders to do more for their constituents. In doing so, the Niles resident, has inspired countless changes in south county, from aiding local charities with hours of volunteer service to influencing county leaders to bring resources closer to home.
Because Personette focused on giving back to her community, her family needs donations to prepare for her end of life expenses. They have started a Go Fund Me page and they are asking the community to give back.
"While donating her time to causes she believed in, she failed to think about herself," the post reads. "With her diagnosis coming suddenly we, her children, are unable and not prepared to pay for her final expenses."
Personette's family is hoping to raise about $6,000. As of Monday afternoon, the Go Fund Me campaign had raised about $1,345 and generated quite a bit of response from the Niles community.
Tyanna Weller, the former president of the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, donated to the cause. She said she has worked with Personette for about three years. Personette was a volunteer at the chamber for more than 10 years and helped in the office and at community events. Through Personette's volunteer work, Weller saw how passionate she was about the Niles community.
"Jan was just a tiger," Weller said. "She was a powerhouse who fought for Niles. The people in south county do not feel like they get enough services and things. Jan always pushed."
Personette was a presence at a number of charity organizations throughout Niles, including the Niles Salvation Army, Optimist Club, Ferry Street Resource Center and the Niles Main Street Downtown Development Association. She also dressed as a historical re-enactor, taking part in the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological open houses during the summer.
But her fiercest of advocating tools for her community seemed to be her voice.
"She spoke to legislators, she would write letters, she would make calls, she would show up whenever there were legislative meetings," Weller said. "She just went to everything that she could to help the community. She really believed in Niles. She really loved Niles and wanted to help everyone there have a better life."
Personette's efforts paid off. During a public meeting, she approached Bret Witkowski, the county treasurer and advised that he find a way to bring a treasury office to Niles so that residents did not have to drive to St. Joseph to take care of their business.
"After thinking about it, 'I was like, yeah you know what, you're right,'" Witkowski said. "To expect people from the Niles and Buchanan area to constantly drive to St. Joseph: not fair."
Because of Personette's influence, Witkowski decided in 2016 to open up an office in the south county courthouse on Front Street in Niles. The office is open every Tuesday and is always busy, he said. By providing easier access to Niles residents, Witkowski said he believes it has not only been a convenience, but a significant impact.
"I think because of that, the number of people in Niles that are on payment plans [who] avoided foreclosure jumped dramatically," Witkowski said.
Personette was also a well-known community advocate to State Sen. John Proos.
"Our communities are stronger, our communities are more vibrant and our communities are more loving when you have somebody like Jan, who has continued to be a part of all that is good in the greater Niles community," Proos said.
From ribbon cuttings to community meetings, Personette sought out Proos to provide suggestions for positive change in her community and often encouraged him to attend events, such as the Fort St. Joseph open house.
"She always insists that I look at issues with a broad lens and understand what the people of the Niles community are saying," he said.
Since starting the Go Fund Me, Personette's daughter Teddi Kella, of Niles, said her family has been touched by the outpouring of support. Kella said she knew her mother had accomplished a lot, but had no idea the scope of her efforts.
"For years we have jokingly called her the "Mini Mayor" because she always knew what was going on in town or what was going to be happening," Kella said. "We are so proud of her."
Personette has two other children, Pauline Hyatt, of Niles and Trenton Personette (Coeur' D'Alene), of Idaho.
Personette claimed several awards recognizing her commitment to the community. In 2015, United Way of Southwest Michigan recognized her with a Giving award. That same year, the chamber made her Volunteer of the Year.
With her efforts in mind, Weller said she hopes to see the community give back just as Personette did. "She gave her heart and soul and her time to every cause she could," Weller said. "Everything she had, she gave to the community."
~~~~~
October 9, 2018
Niles mourns the passing of The Purple Lady
by Howard Dukes- South Bend Tribune
NILES — Both Nick Shelton and Greg Nasstrom used one word when describing Janet Anne Personette. Passionate. Personette, a woman who loved her adopted hometown and threw herself into many volunteer efforts, died Saturday after a long illness. She was 73.
Since moving to Niles in 1992, Personette was a frequent face at Niles City Council meetings, often dressed in her trademark purple. She volunteered and served on the board of directors of a host of agencies including the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, the Niles Optimist Club, the Ferry Street Resource Center and the Niles History Center/Fort St. Joseph Museum.
"She was the perfect example of what a citizen should be, and that is involved," said Shelton, who is mayor of Niles. "She was passionate and vocal, and she was not afraid to express her opinion and she would go to bat for people in our community who were less fortunate."
Nasstrom, executive director of the Ferry Street Resource Center, one of the many agencies that benefited from Personette's volunteer efforts, agreed. "She was very passionate about helping people," Nasstrom recalled. "She was a board member and a volunteer and she cared very much about people's needs."
Theadora "Teddi" Kella, one of Personette's three children, said the family saw that passion close up. However, the children did not realize the depth of their mother's commitment until her illness progressed to the point that she could no longer volunteer.
Kella said that Personette didn't talk much about her volunteer work. "She was very loving and caring and worked very hard her whole life," Kella said. "She really tried to give us everything. "She was a single mom from the time I was 9, and she took us everywhere and tried to give us educational experiences."
~~~~~
Oct 10, 2018
Remembering Niles' purple lady
by Kelsey Hammon- Niles Daily Star
NILES — During their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, members of the Niles City Council paid homage to longtime volunteer and community advocate Jan Personette.
Personette passed away Saturday after a battle with stage four cancer. She was known to many community members for her many volunteer endeavors, including the Niles Salvation Army, Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, Ferry Street Resource Center, Support the Fort and the Optimist Club, to name a few.
Council members and residents alike who attended the meeting paid homage to Personette by wearing her favorite color: purple. Personette was often clad in purple clothing and was known to many in the Niles community as "the purple lady."
Personette religiously attended city council meetings and was apt to share with city leaders her thoughts and ideas for making Niles a greater place to live. In her honor, the meeting included a moment of silence for Personette. Mayor Nick Shelton then presented a certificate of appreciation to recognize Personette's efforts. The award was given to her daughters Teddi Kella and Reeni Hyatt.
Shelton described how he was told he needed the "purple lady" on his side. In 2015, he said he and Personette's friendship began. She would often hold impromptu discussions with Shelton while he was working at Shelton's Farm Market to give him an inside scoop into the happenings of the Niles community. "
"She was a friend of the community and a friend of mine," Shelton said. "I can say that we will definitely miss her."
Council members who had known Personette throughout the years also said they had come to know her tenacity and love for her city of Niles. Council member Gretchen Bertschy said Personette provided insight to her while she was new to her role as council member. "We are going to miss her," Bertschy said. "Her advice was always spot on."
Council member Bob Durm said he had known Personette for about 26 years. Though she had passed away, Durm said council members would continue to feel her presence at council meetings in spirit. "Jan's love of the city of Niles was unparalleled," Durm said. "She will still be here. She will be here every meeting, we will feel it."
~~~~~
October 11, 2018
Jack and Jan prove opposing viewpoints don't make enemies
by Ambrosia Neldon- Niles Daily Star
This week has been a sad one for Niles and greater southwest Michigan, as the region has said farewell to two of the greats. Even in their passing, Jack Strayer and Jan Personette are teaching us lessons.
Niles area residents know Jack for his giving spirit and political activism. He was an advocate for many causes, the most notable including health reform, the Berrien County Youth Fair Expo Arena, the Niles Education Foundation and Trinity Episcopal Church.
Jack's political career began in 1976 when he joined the campaign for Congressman David Stockman as campaign manager. Jack's roommate at the time, Congressman Fred Upton, describes Jack as a "an extremely good writer" that he has always viewed as "Mr. Niles."
In the years following the Stockman campaign, Jack continued writing speeches, columns, seminars and policies in Washington D.C. and various other parts of the country. When Jack returned home to Niles in 2008, he continued to share his political viewpoints and his strong passions for his hometown in a column titled "Speaking for Experience" in the Daily Star.
Another Niles activist, Jan Personette, passed over the weekend. Anyone who has attended a city council meeting, Four Flags Chamber of Commerce event or downtown Niles festival in the last 20 years has likely come to know Jan as "the purple lady."
Like Jack, Jan was vocal about her political beliefs and was apt to share her advice for improving the city she loved. She was a champion for providing medical marijuana to those who needed it. She was constantly looking for ways to help those less fortunate through affordable housing options, localization of government offices and numerous volunteer efforts.
I got to know Jan well through her letters to the editor, encouraging fellow Daily Star readers to take a closer look into issues she felt strongly about. In addition to "the purple lady," Jan was referred to by many as "Mrs. Niles." Sound familiar?
As I've reflected on the passing of two friends this week, I've learned an important lesson. Though their paths may have only minimally crossed, Jack and Jan were strikingly similar individuals. They were champions for positive change in their hometown. They both not only recognized the challenges in their community, but set out to do something about them.
Other than some dabbling over party lines to support friends running for office, Jack and Jan were virtually political opposites. Jack put his heart and time into conservative efforts, while Jan's advocacy was more liberal.
Put simply, Jack and Jan shared a common love — a love for their hometown — and a common goal: making Niles a better place to live. They had different ways of getting there, but they both made lasting changes that the city of Niles and greater southwest Michigan area will reap the benefits of for decades to come.
Jack and Jan are proof that regardless of our political beliefs, if we feel strongly enough about a positive outcome, positive change will come.
Thanks for the lesson, Jack and Jan. Niles will miss you both.
I wrote the following obituary for my mom. It was published in the Niles Daily Star at
Janet Anne Personette, 73, of Niles, passed away peacefully at her daughter, Pauline Hyatt's, home on Saturday, October 6, 2018, with her family by her side.
Jan was born on September 24, 1945, in New York City and at the age of about 6 months she was adopted by Paul and Pauline (Hefner) Steele. Her biological mother is Isabel Theresa Kohler (1913-1978). Her Find A Grave memorial is #64841276 Isabel was Paul Steele's sister-in-law... I was able to identify Jan's biological father through DNA and even show her a photo about 10 months before she died. I will not list his name as he has a daughter that is still living.
When Jan was about 9 years old she and her parents moved from South Bend, Indiana to the Twin Lakes area in Dowagiac, Michigan. She graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1964. She moved to Chicago in her early 20's, living there only a few years. Moving back to Dowagiac in 1966. Jan went on to wed William Earlywine Duffey and then Joseph "Ted" Kella and raised two children, Teddi and Reeni. The two later divorced and Jan wed Richard Personette and the couple had one son, Trenton Andrew Personette.
She remained there, raising her two daughters. She was a school bus driver for Dowagiac Schools for 18 years and a member of the Twin Lakes Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. In 1986 Jan moved to Long Island, New York with her son, where she lived until 1990. Jan and her son then moved to Huntington, Indiana, but they did not remain there long. Just two years later, in October 1992 Jan moved to Niles, to live with her daughter, Teddi, and her love of Niles began! She worked at WNIL part-time up until about 6 months before her death.
Anyone who knew Jan knew she was unpretentious and loved the color purple. I am sure she is in Heaven campaigning to have purple wings. You would instantly know this because she most likely would be wearing the color from head to toe, literally, every single day. She was affectionately known as the "Purple Lady". Many would say that you could tell Jan was a community activist because within a few minutes, of meeting her, she would have probably tried to recruit you for a cause. She is most likely up in Heaven already asking someone to help with a cause or asking them for a donation sporting her purple coat and purple hat. You could also tell that she was a passionate, unconventional, woman who had a fire in her soul. Jan was a champion for Niles and the south county area. Her family said Jan would tell them, "You should watch the news at six tonight." And they would tune in and find out she was being interviewed about something. She attended any meeting she could, she put everything she had in to her little town. Yet, no one knows the extent of every activity she did, because she was never one to brag or boast about the wonderful things she had accomplished.
Jan's love of history drew her to become an early member of the local interest group, Support the Fort, Inc., which helped sponsor a major archaeological excavation on the Fort St. Joseph site, which began in 2002. Jan volunteered at many of the Fort Saint Joseph archaeological events, open houses and outdoor museums. She was also an active participant in Rendezvous events as a re-enactor, dressing as an 18th century woman, and she participated in the living history village. Her son, Trenton, would participate with her. Gradually Jan's interests and volunteerism spread to a number of groups, organizations and causes in the Niles community. We really don't know when she slept… Since 1992 she has been an active force in the community. She was a board member for the Ferry Street Resource Center, a member for the past 8 years of the Niles Optimist Club—a board member and even becoming president of the Niles Optimist Club in Oct 2017 but she had step down due to her illness in March 2018, Four Flag Area Chamber of Commerce—Where Jan was a 2015 Volunteer of the Year Nominee and received the 2015 Niles Voice of Care Award, Berrien HRN, Berrien County Democratic Women's Group, Downtown Development Authority, Elder Care Alliance, Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery—She was one of the early members where she spent countless hours photographing headstones, transcribing obituaries, and helping the public with searches, Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Project—she was responsible for getting the new, larger, granite monument near the Fort Saint Joseph archaeological site erected and donors to pay for it. Hunter Ice Festival, Niles Community Development—where she passionately worked to someday have "tiny houses" made available in Niles, Niles Community Gardens, Niles History Center/Fort St. Joseph Museum, Friends of Niles District Library—where Jan was credited with the idea for the Historical Marker postcard set with QR codes on them to lead to a map of the historical marker's location, Niles YMCA, Niles Salvation Army, South County Democrats, and the United Way—Where Jan received an award that recognized her efforts to serve the Niles community.
When it came to speaking up for the Niles community Jan was a self-proclaimed "Squeaky wheel" and challenged city and state leaders to do more for the constituents. She would call and write legislators and attend meetings when possible to get her point across. In 2016 she influenced the county treasurer to open up an office in the south county court house for better access to Berrien County residents in the Niles area of the county. Jan was also a well-known advocate to State Senator John Proos. She attended Niles City Council meetings for many years and worked at voting locations during elections. We affectionately called her the "mini mayor" because she always knew what was going on in town. The real mayor, Nick Shelton said, "I was told early on, 'You need to have the Purple Lady on your side!' And that's when I met Jan."
Throughout her life she has many other passions, along with her purple passion. When she needed a blood transfusion in September she stated that she donated 11 gallons of blood throughout her lifetime. She was a talented artist—she loved to make unique homemade presents. She was a former member of the Niles Art Association. She loved to read and was a member of the Foodies Book Club. She had an acting bug and participated in local plays. She adored her grandkids—even the ones she didn't see often. She loved family history and she was an active member of FindAGrave.com. She was a Chicago Cubs fan, had been to a number of games and yelled at the TV too many times to remember! GO CUBBIES!
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Mary Rose Steele, her dogs Cookie, Dandelion, Tess, and good friend, Theadora Esther Neumann, whom she named her oldest daughter after.
Jan is survived by her children, Theadora "Teddi" (Albert Fuller) Kella of Niles, Pauline "Reeni" (Larry) Hyatt of Niles, and Trenton (Sandie Kohltfarber) Personette of Coeur' D'Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Taylor, Alexi Fuller, Dale, Cloey, Aaren, and Kaleb; granddogs, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Shady, and Dudley; brother, John (Janice DeRosa) Steele of Mineola, New York; close personal friends, Pat Rockhill and Gloria "Jean" Watson as well as many extended family members and close friends.
To show support of Jan and her purple passion, everyone is encouraged to wear purple to Jan's visitation and funeral. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at Brown Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral service and celebration of Jan's life will be held on Thursday, October 11th at Brown Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m.
A funeral fund has been set up to help Jan's children and in lieu of flowers donations may be made by calling the funeral home, mail a donation to 521 East Main Street, Niles or by visiting
Go Fund Me site for Janet Personette's End of Life Funds:
~~~~~
October 2, 2018
Go Fund Me to raise end of life funds
by Kelsey Hammon-Niles Daily Star
NILES — Residents who have been to a city council meeting or Four Flags Chamber of Commerce event have likely made contact with Jan Personette.
Clad in a shade of iconic purple, Personette with her shortly cropped gray hair and spectacles did not necessarily stand out as a force to be reckoned with, but the self-proclaimed "squeaky wheel" was not afraid to challenge her city and state leaders to do more for their constituents. In doing so, the Niles resident, has inspired countless changes in south county, from aiding local charities with hours of volunteer service to influencing county leaders to bring resources closer to home.
Because Personette focused on giving back to her community, her family needs donations to prepare for her end of life expenses. They have started a Go Fund Me page and they are asking the community to give back.
"While donating her time to causes she believed in, she failed to think about herself," the post reads. "With her diagnosis coming suddenly we, her children, are unable and not prepared to pay for her final expenses."
Personette's family is hoping to raise about $6,000. As of Monday afternoon, the Go Fund Me campaign had raised about $1,345 and generated quite a bit of response from the Niles community.
Tyanna Weller, the former president of the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, donated to the cause. She said she has worked with Personette for about three years. Personette was a volunteer at the chamber for more than 10 years and helped in the office and at community events. Through Personette's volunteer work, Weller saw how passionate she was about the Niles community.
"Jan was just a tiger," Weller said. "She was a powerhouse who fought for Niles. The people in south county do not feel like they get enough services and things. Jan always pushed."
Personette was a presence at a number of charity organizations throughout Niles, including the Niles Salvation Army, Optimist Club, Ferry Street Resource Center and the Niles Main Street Downtown Development Association. She also dressed as a historical re-enactor, taking part in the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological open houses during the summer.
But her fiercest of advocating tools for her community seemed to be her voice.
"She spoke to legislators, she would write letters, she would make calls, she would show up whenever there were legislative meetings," Weller said. "She just went to everything that she could to help the community. She really believed in Niles. She really loved Niles and wanted to help everyone there have a better life."
Personette's efforts paid off. During a public meeting, she approached Bret Witkowski, the county treasurer and advised that he find a way to bring a treasury office to Niles so that residents did not have to drive to St. Joseph to take care of their business.
"After thinking about it, 'I was like, yeah you know what, you're right,'" Witkowski said. "To expect people from the Niles and Buchanan area to constantly drive to St. Joseph: not fair."
Because of Personette's influence, Witkowski decided in 2016 to open up an office in the south county courthouse on Front Street in Niles. The office is open every Tuesday and is always busy, he said. By providing easier access to Niles residents, Witkowski said he believes it has not only been a convenience, but a significant impact.
"I think because of that, the number of people in Niles that are on payment plans [who] avoided foreclosure jumped dramatically," Witkowski said.
Personette was also a well-known community advocate to State Sen. John Proos.
"Our communities are stronger, our communities are more vibrant and our communities are more loving when you have somebody like Jan, who has continued to be a part of all that is good in the greater Niles community," Proos said.
From ribbon cuttings to community meetings, Personette sought out Proos to provide suggestions for positive change in her community and often encouraged him to attend events, such as the Fort St. Joseph open house.
"She always insists that I look at issues with a broad lens and understand what the people of the Niles community are saying," he said.
Since starting the Go Fund Me, Personette's daughter Teddi Kella, of Niles, said her family has been touched by the outpouring of support. Kella said she knew her mother had accomplished a lot, but had no idea the scope of her efforts.
"For years we have jokingly called her the "Mini Mayor" because she always knew what was going on in town or what was going to be happening," Kella said. "We are so proud of her."
Personette has two other children, Pauline Hyatt, of Niles and Trenton Personette (Coeur' D'Alene), of Idaho.
Personette claimed several awards recognizing her commitment to the community. In 2015, United Way of Southwest Michigan recognized her with a Giving award. That same year, the chamber made her Volunteer of the Year.
With her efforts in mind, Weller said she hopes to see the community give back just as Personette did. "She gave her heart and soul and her time to every cause she could," Weller said. "Everything she had, she gave to the community."
~~~~~
October 9, 2018
Niles mourns the passing of The Purple Lady
by Howard Dukes- South Bend Tribune
NILES — Both Nick Shelton and Greg Nasstrom used one word when describing Janet Anne Personette. Passionate. Personette, a woman who loved her adopted hometown and threw herself into many volunteer efforts, died Saturday after a long illness. She was 73.
Since moving to Niles in 1992, Personette was a frequent face at Niles City Council meetings, often dressed in her trademark purple. She volunteered and served on the board of directors of a host of agencies including the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, the Niles Optimist Club, the Ferry Street Resource Center and the Niles History Center/Fort St. Joseph Museum.
"She was the perfect example of what a citizen should be, and that is involved," said Shelton, who is mayor of Niles. "She was passionate and vocal, and she was not afraid to express her opinion and she would go to bat for people in our community who were less fortunate."
Nasstrom, executive director of the Ferry Street Resource Center, one of the many agencies that benefited from Personette's volunteer efforts, agreed. "She was very passionate about helping people," Nasstrom recalled. "She was a board member and a volunteer and she cared very much about people's needs."
Theadora "Teddi" Kella, one of Personette's three children, said the family saw that passion close up. However, the children did not realize the depth of their mother's commitment until her illness progressed to the point that she could no longer volunteer.
Kella said that Personette didn't talk much about her volunteer work. "She was very loving and caring and worked very hard her whole life," Kella said. "She really tried to give us everything. "She was a single mom from the time I was 9, and she took us everywhere and tried to give us educational experiences."
~~~~~
Oct 10, 2018
Remembering Niles' purple lady
by Kelsey Hammon- Niles Daily Star
NILES — During their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, members of the Niles City Council paid homage to longtime volunteer and community advocate Jan Personette.
Personette passed away Saturday after a battle with stage four cancer. She was known to many community members for her many volunteer endeavors, including the Niles Salvation Army, Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, Ferry Street Resource Center, Support the Fort and the Optimist Club, to name a few.
Council members and residents alike who attended the meeting paid homage to Personette by wearing her favorite color: purple. Personette was often clad in purple clothing and was known to many in the Niles community as "the purple lady."
Personette religiously attended city council meetings and was apt to share with city leaders her thoughts and ideas for making Niles a greater place to live. In her honor, the meeting included a moment of silence for Personette. Mayor Nick Shelton then presented a certificate of appreciation to recognize Personette's efforts. The award was given to her daughters Teddi Kella and Reeni Hyatt.
Shelton described how he was told he needed the "purple lady" on his side. In 2015, he said he and Personette's friendship began. She would often hold impromptu discussions with Shelton while he was working at Shelton's Farm Market to give him an inside scoop into the happenings of the Niles community. "
"She was a friend of the community and a friend of mine," Shelton said. "I can say that we will definitely miss her."
Council members who had known Personette throughout the years also said they had come to know her tenacity and love for her city of Niles. Council member Gretchen Bertschy said Personette provided insight to her while she was new to her role as council member. "We are going to miss her," Bertschy said. "Her advice was always spot on."
Council member Bob Durm said he had known Personette for about 26 years. Though she had passed away, Durm said council members would continue to feel her presence at council meetings in spirit. "Jan's love of the city of Niles was unparalleled," Durm said. "She will still be here. She will be here every meeting, we will feel it."
~~~~~
October 11, 2018
Jack and Jan prove opposing viewpoints don't make enemies
by Ambrosia Neldon- Niles Daily Star
This week has been a sad one for Niles and greater southwest Michigan, as the region has said farewell to two of the greats. Even in their passing, Jack Strayer and Jan Personette are teaching us lessons.
Niles area residents know Jack for his giving spirit and political activism. He was an advocate for many causes, the most notable including health reform, the Berrien County Youth Fair Expo Arena, the Niles Education Foundation and Trinity Episcopal Church.
Jack's political career began in 1976 when he joined the campaign for Congressman David Stockman as campaign manager. Jack's roommate at the time, Congressman Fred Upton, describes Jack as a "an extremely good writer" that he has always viewed as "Mr. Niles."
In the years following the Stockman campaign, Jack continued writing speeches, columns, seminars and policies in Washington D.C. and various other parts of the country. When Jack returned home to Niles in 2008, he continued to share his political viewpoints and his strong passions for his hometown in a column titled "Speaking for Experience" in the Daily Star.
Another Niles activist, Jan Personette, passed over the weekend. Anyone who has attended a city council meeting, Four Flags Chamber of Commerce event or downtown Niles festival in the last 20 years has likely come to know Jan as "the purple lady."
Like Jack, Jan was vocal about her political beliefs and was apt to share her advice for improving the city she loved. She was a champion for providing medical marijuana to those who needed it. She was constantly looking for ways to help those less fortunate through affordable housing options, localization of government offices and numerous volunteer efforts.
I got to know Jan well through her letters to the editor, encouraging fellow Daily Star readers to take a closer look into issues she felt strongly about. In addition to "the purple lady," Jan was referred to by many as "Mrs. Niles." Sound familiar?
As I've reflected on the passing of two friends this week, I've learned an important lesson. Though their paths may have only minimally crossed, Jack and Jan were strikingly similar individuals. They were champions for positive change in their hometown. They both not only recognized the challenges in their community, but set out to do something about them.
Other than some dabbling over party lines to support friends running for office, Jack and Jan were virtually political opposites. Jack put his heart and time into conservative efforts, while Jan's advocacy was more liberal.
Put simply, Jack and Jan shared a common love — a love for their hometown — and a common goal: making Niles a better place to live. They had different ways of getting there, but they both made lasting changes that the city of Niles and greater southwest Michigan area will reap the benefits of for decades to come.
Jack and Jan are proof that regardless of our political beliefs, if we feel strongly enough about a positive outcome, positive change will come.
Thanks for the lesson, Jack and Jan. Niles will miss you both.
Janet Anne Personette, 73, of Niles, passed away peacefully at her daughter, Pauline Hyatt's, home on Saturday, October 6, 2018, with her family by her side.
Jan was born on September 24, 1945, in New York City and at the age of about 6 months she was adopted by Paul and Pauline (Hefner) Steele. Her biological mother is Isabel Theresa Kohler (1913-1978). Her Find A Grave memorial is #64841276 Isabel was Paul Steele's sister-in-law... I was able to identify Jan's biological father through DNA and even show her a photo about 10 months before she died. I will not list his name as he has a daughter that is still living.
When Jan was about 9 years old she and her parents moved from South Bend, Indiana to the Twin Lakes area in Dowagiac, Michigan. She graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1964. She moved to Chicago in her early 20's, living there only a few years. Moving back to Dowagiac in 1966. Jan went on to wed William Earlywine Duffey and then Joseph "Ted" Kella and raised two children, Teddi and Reeni. The two later divorced and Jan wed Richard Personette and the couple had one son, Trenton Andrew Personette.
She remained there, raising her two daughters. She was a school bus driver for Dowagiac Schools for 18 years and a member of the Twin Lakes Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. In 1986 Jan moved to Long Island, New York with her son, where she lived until 1990. Jan and her son then moved to Huntington, Indiana, but they did not remain there long. Just two years later, in October 1992 Jan moved to Niles, to live with her daughter, Teddi, and her love of Niles began! She worked at WNIL part-time up until about 6 months before her death.
Anyone who knew Jan knew she was unpretentious and loved the color purple. I am sure she is in Heaven campaigning to have purple wings. You would instantly know this because she most likely would be wearing the color from head to toe, literally, every single day. She was affectionately known as the "Purple Lady". Many would say that you could tell Jan was a community activist because within a few minutes, of meeting her, she would have probably tried to recruit you for a cause. She is most likely up in Heaven already asking someone to help with a cause or asking them for a donation sporting her purple coat and purple hat. You could also tell that she was a passionate, unconventional, woman who had a fire in her soul. Jan was a champion for Niles and the south county area. Her family said Jan would tell them, "You should watch the news at six tonight." And they would tune in and find out she was being interviewed about something. She attended any meeting she could, she put everything she had in to her little town. Yet, no one knows the extent of every activity she did, because she was never one to brag or boast about the wonderful things she had accomplished.
Jan's love of history drew her to become an early member of the local interest group, Support the Fort, Inc., which helped sponsor a major archaeological excavation on the Fort St. Joseph site, which began in 2002. Jan volunteered at many of the Fort Saint Joseph archaeological events, open houses and outdoor museums. She was also an active participant in Rendezvous events as a re-enactor, dressing as an 18th century woman, and she participated in the living history village. Her son, Trenton, would participate with her. Gradually Jan's interests and volunteerism spread to a number of groups, organizations and causes in the Niles community. We really don't know when she slept… Since 1992 she has been an active force in the community. She was a board member for the Ferry Street Resource Center, a member for the past 8 years of the Niles Optimist Club—a board member and even becoming president of the Niles Optimist Club in Oct 2017 but she had step down due to her illness in March 2018, Four Flag Area Chamber of Commerce—Where Jan was a 2015 Volunteer of the Year Nominee and received the 2015 Niles Voice of Care Award, Berrien HRN, Berrien County Democratic Women's Group, Downtown Development Authority, Elder Care Alliance, Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery—She was one of the early members where she spent countless hours photographing headstones, transcribing obituaries, and helping the public with searches, Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Project—she was responsible for getting the new, larger, granite monument near the Fort Saint Joseph archaeological site erected and donors to pay for it. Hunter Ice Festival, Niles Community Development—where she passionately worked to someday have "tiny houses" made available in Niles, Niles Community Gardens, Niles History Center/Fort St. Joseph Museum, Friends of Niles District Library—where Jan was credited with the idea for the Historical Marker postcard set with QR codes on them to lead to a map of the historical marker's location, Niles YMCA, Niles Salvation Army, South County Democrats, and the United Way—Where Jan received an award that recognized her efforts to serve the Niles community.
When it came to speaking up for the Niles community Jan was a self-proclaimed "Squeaky wheel" and challenged city and state leaders to do more for the constituents. She would call and write legislators and attend meetings when possible to get her point across. In 2016 she influenced the county treasurer to open up an office in the south county court house for better access to Berrien County residents in the Niles area of the county. Jan was also a well-known advocate to State Senator John Proos. She attended Niles City Council meetings for many years and worked at voting locations during elections. We affectionately called her the "mini mayor" because she always knew what was going on in town. The real mayor, Nick Shelton said, "I was told early on, 'You need to have the Purple Lady on your side!' And that's when I met Jan."
Throughout her life she has many other passions, along with her purple passion. When she needed a blood transfusion in September she stated that she donated 11 gallons of blood throughout her lifetime. She was a talented artist—she loved to make unique homemade presents. She was a former member of the Niles Art Association. She loved to read and was a member of the Foodies Book Club. She had an acting bug and participated in local plays. She adored her grandkids—even the ones she didn't see often. She loved family history and she was an active member of FindAGrave.com. She was a Chicago Cubs fan, had been to a number of games and yelled at the TV too many times to remember! GO CUBBIES!
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Mary Rose Steele, her dogs Cookie, Dandelion, Tess, and good friend, Theadora Esther Neumann, whom she named her oldest daughter after.
Jan is survived by her children, Theadora "Teddi" (Albert Fuller) Kella of Niles, Pauline "Reeni" (Larry) Hyatt of Niles, and Trenton (Sandie Kohltfarber) Personette of Coeur' D'Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Taylor, Alexi Fuller, Dale, Cloey, Aaren, and Kaleb; granddogs, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Shady, and Dudley; brother, John (Janice DeRosa) Steele of Mineola, New York; close personal friends, Pat Rockhill and Gloria "Jean" Watson as well as many extended family members and close friends.
To show support of Jan and her purple passion, everyone is encouraged to wear purple to Jan's visitation and funeral. Visitation will be on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at Brown Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral service and celebration of Jan's life will be held on Thursday, October 11th at Brown Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m.
A funeral fund has been set up to help Jan's children and in lieu of flowers donations may be made by calling the funeral home, mail a donation to 521 East Main Street, Niles or by visiting
Go Fund Me site for Janet Personette's End of Life Funds:
~~~~~
October 2, 2018
Go Fund Me to raise end of life funds
by Kelsey Hammon-Niles Daily Star
NILES — Residents who have been to a city council meeting or Four Flags Chamber of Commerce event have likely made contact with Jan Personette.
Clad in a shade of iconic purple, Personette with her shortly cropped gray hair and spectacles did not necessarily stand out as a force to be reckoned with, but the self-proclaimed "squeaky wheel" was not afraid to challenge her city and state leaders to do more for their constituents. In doing so, the Niles resident, has inspired countless changes in south county, from aiding local charities with hours of volunteer service to influencing county leaders to bring resources closer to home.
Because Personette focused on giving back to her community, her family needs donations to prepare for her end of life expenses. They have started a Go Fund Me page and they are asking the community to give back.
"While donating her time to causes she believed in, she failed to think about herself," the post reads. "With her diagnosis coming suddenly we, her children, are unable and not prepared to pay for her final expenses."
Personette's family is hoping to raise about $6,000. As of Monday afternoon, the Go Fund Me campaign had raised about $1,345 and generated quite a bit of response from the Niles community.
Tyanna Weller, the former president of the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, donated to the cause. She said she has worked with Personette for about three years. Personette was a volunteer at the chamber for more than 10 years and helped in the office and at community events. Through Personette's volunteer work, Weller saw how passionate she was about the Niles community.
"Jan was just a tiger," Weller said. "She was a powerhouse who fought for Niles. The people in south county do not feel like they get enough services and things. Jan always pushed."
Personette was a presence at a number of charity organizations throughout Niles, including the Niles Salvation Army, Optimist Club, Ferry Street Resource Center and the Niles Main Street Downtown Development Association. She also dressed as a historical re-enactor, taking part in the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological open houses during the summer.
But her fiercest of advocating tools for her community seemed to be her voice.
"She spoke to legislators, she would write letters, she would make calls, she would show up whenever there were legislative meetings," Weller said. "She just went to everything that she could to help the community. She really believed in Niles. She really loved Niles and wanted to help everyone there have a better life."
Personette's efforts paid off. During a public meeting, she approached Bret Witkowski, the county treasurer and advised that he find a way to bring a treasury office to Niles so that residents did not have to drive to St. Joseph to take care of their business.
"After thinking about it, 'I was like, yeah you know what, you're right,'" Witkowski said. "To expect people from the Niles and Buchanan area to constantly drive to St. Joseph: not fair."
Because of Personette's influence, Witkowski decided in 2016 to open up an office in the south county courthouse on Front Street in Niles. The office is open every Tuesday and is always busy, he said. By providing easier access to Niles residents, Witkowski said he believes it has not only been a convenience, but a significant impact.
"I think because of that, the number of people in Niles that are on payment plans [who] avoided foreclosure jumped dramatically," Witkowski said.
Personette was also a well-known community advocate to State Sen. John Proos.
"Our communities are stronger, our communities are more vibrant and our communities are more loving when you have somebody like Jan, who has continued to be a part of all that is good in the greater Niles community," Proos said.
From ribbon cuttings to community meetings, Personette sought out Proos to provide suggestions for positive change in her community and often encouraged him to attend events, such as the Fort St. Joseph open house.
"She always insists that I look at issues with a broad lens and understand what the people of the Niles community are saying," he said.
Since starting the Go Fund Me, Personette's daughter Teddi Kella, of Niles, said her family has been touched by the outpouring of support. Kella said she knew her mother had accomplished a lot, but had no idea the scope of her efforts.
"For years we have jokingly called her the "Mini Mayor" because she always knew what was going on in town or what was going to be happening," Kella said. "We are so proud of her."
Personette has two other children, Pauline Hyatt, of Niles and Trenton Personette (Coeur' D'Alene), of Idaho.
Personette claimed several awards recognizing her commitment to the community. In 2015, United Way of Southwest Michigan recognized her with a Giving award. That same year, the chamber made her Volunteer of the Year.
With her efforts in mind, Weller said she hopes to see the community give back just as Personette did. "She gave her heart and soul and her time to every cause she could," Weller said. "Everything she had, she gave to the community."
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October 9, 2018
Niles mourns the passing of The Purple Lady
by Howard Dukes- South Bend Tribune
NILES — Both Nick Shelton and Greg Nasstrom used one word when describing Janet Anne Personette. Passionate. Personette, a woman who loved her adopted hometown and threw herself into many volunteer efforts, died Saturday after a long illness. She was 73.
Since moving to Niles in 1992, Personette was a frequent face at Niles City Council meetings, often dressed in her trademark purple. She volunteered and served on the board of directors of a host of agencies including the Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, the Niles Optimist Club, the Ferry Street Resource Center and the Niles History Center/Fort St. Joseph Museum.
"She was the perfect example of what a citizen should be, and that is involved," said Shelton, who is mayor of Niles. "She was passionate and vocal, and she was not afraid to express her opinion and she would go to bat for people in our community who were less fortunate."
Nasstrom, executive director of the Ferry Street Resource Center, one of the many agencies that benefited from Personette's volunteer efforts, agreed. "She was very passionate about helping people," Nasstrom recalled. "She was a board member and a volunteer and she cared very much about people's needs."
Theadora "Teddi" Kella, one of Personette's three children, said the family saw that passion close up. However, the children did not realize the depth of their mother's commitment until her illness progressed to the point that she could no longer volunteer.
Kella said that Personette didn't talk much about her volunteer work. "She was very loving and caring and worked very hard her whole life," Kella said. "She really tried to give us everything. "She was a single mom from the time I was 9, and she took us everywhere and tried to give us educational experiences."
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Oct 10, 2018
Remembering Niles' purple lady
by Kelsey Hammon- Niles Daily Star
NILES — During their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night, members of the Niles City Council paid homage to longtime volunteer and community advocate Jan Personette.
Personette passed away Saturday after a battle with stage four cancer. She was known to many community members for her many volunteer endeavors, including the Niles Salvation Army, Four Flags Chamber of Commerce, Ferry Street Resource Center, Support the Fort and the Optimist Club, to name a few.
Council members and residents alike who attended the meeting paid homage to Personette by wearing her favorite color: purple. Personette was often clad in purple clothing and was known to many in the Niles community as "the purple lady."
Personette religiously attended city council meetings and was apt to share with city leaders her thoughts and ideas for making Niles a greater place to live. In her honor, the meeting included a moment of silence for Personette. Mayor Nick Shelton then presented a certificate of appreciation to recognize Personette's efforts. The award was given to her daughters Teddi Kella and Reeni Hyatt.
Shelton described how he was told he needed the "purple lady" on his side. In 2015, he said he and Personette's friendship began. She would often hold impromptu discussions with Shelton while he was working at Shelton's Farm Market to give him an inside scoop into the happenings of the Niles community. "
"She was a friend of the community and a friend of mine," Shelton said. "I can say that we will definitely miss her."
Council members who had known Personette throughout the years also said they had come to know her tenacity and love for her city of Niles. Council member Gretchen Bertschy said Personette provided insight to her while she was new to her role as council member. "We are going to miss her," Bertschy said. "Her advice was always spot on."
Council member Bob Durm said he had known Personette for about 26 years. Though she had passed away, Durm said council members would continue to feel her presence at council meetings in spirit. "Jan's love of the city of Niles was unparalleled," Durm said. "She will still be here. She will be here every meeting, we will feel it."
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October 11, 2018
Jack and Jan prove opposing viewpoints don't make enemies
by Ambrosia Neldon- Niles Daily Star
This week has been a sad one for Niles and greater southwest Michigan, as the region has said farewell to two of the greats. Even in their passing, Jack Strayer and Jan Personette are teaching us lessons.
Niles area residents know Jack for his giving spirit and political activism. He was an advocate for many causes, the most notable including health reform, the Berrien County Youth Fair Expo Arena, the Niles Education Foundation and Trinity Episcopal Church.
Jack's political career began in 1976 when he joined the campaign for Congressman David Stockman as campaign manager. Jack's roommate at the time, Congressman Fred Upton, describes Jack as a "an extremely good writer" that he has always viewed as "Mr. Niles."
In the years following the Stockman campaign, Jack continued writing speeches, columns, seminars and policies in Washington D.C. and various other parts of the country. When Jack returned home to Niles in 2008, he continued to share his political viewpoints and his strong passions for his hometown in a column titled "Speaking for Experience" in the Daily Star.
Another Niles activist, Jan Personette, passed over the weekend. Anyone who has attended a city council meeting, Four Flags Chamber of Commerce event or downtown Niles festival in the last 20 years has likely come to know Jan as "the purple lady."
Like Jack, Jan was vocal about her political beliefs and was apt to share her advice for improving the city she loved. She was a champion for providing medical marijuana to those who needed it. She was constantly looking for ways to help those less fortunate through affordable housing options, localization of government offices and numerous volunteer efforts.
I got to know Jan well through her letters to the editor, encouraging fellow Daily Star readers to take a closer look into issues she felt strongly about. In addition to "the purple lady," Jan was referred to by many as "Mrs. Niles." Sound familiar?
As I've reflected on the passing of two friends this week, I've learned an important lesson. Though their paths may have only minimally crossed, Jack and Jan were strikingly similar individuals. They were champions for positive change in their hometown. They both not only recognized the challenges in their community, but set out to do something about them.
Other than some dabbling over party lines to support friends running for office, Jack and Jan were virtually political opposites. Jack put his heart and time into conservative efforts, while Jan's advocacy was more liberal.
Put simply, Jack and Jan shared a common love — a love for their hometown — and a common goal: making Niles a better place to live. They had different ways of getting there, but they both made lasting changes that the city of Niles and greater southwest Michigan area will reap the benefits of for decades to come.
Jack and Jan are proof that regardless of our political beliefs, if we feel strongly enough about a positive outcome, positive change will come.
Thanks for the lesson, Jack and Jan. Niles will miss you both.
Family Members
See more Personette or Steele memorials in:
- Find a Grave Personette or Steele
