Caring mother, devoted wife, passionate teacher, and dedicated Army spouse. Janice passed unexpectedly in Kennesaw, GA under emergent conditions ending her struggle with Multiple Sclerosis and a host of other ailments and complications that began when she was 18. Janice was born and raised in Chicago, attending Saint Wenceslaus Grammar School, Good Counsel High School, and Northeastern Illinois University earning a degree in art history and studio art with a K-12 teaching certification. She taught in multiple schools in the US and Germany over the years, dedicating her endeavors to early childhood care and physically and emotionally challenged children.

Janice and Joe met on a blind date in 1976 and wed in 1984 after a thoughtful courtship. She hastened off to the Army with Joe and adapted quickly to military life. Janice was an exceptional Army spouse who handily and appropriately managed family support groups across multiple assignments while mentoring other wives on the finer points of Army ceremonies and social events. She was always available to those seeking counsel about the rigors of military life and family relationships.

While stationed with Joe back in Chicago, she earned a master's in early childhood/special education back at Northeastern and trained and worked as a Child-Life Advocate with Children's Memorial Hospital, acting as an ombudsperson between hospital staff and families of critically ill children.

A devout Catholic, she was a lay liturgical minister, and extraordinary minister of communion. She sang in choir and taught Sunday School regularly while also teaching religion full-time in parochial school.

When able, Janice served as a lifeguard, played tennis and basketball, and took English-riding lessons while stationed with Joe in Germany. She enjoyed art, travel, keeping family traditions, infants and toddlers, amateur modeling, dancing, hosting parties, puppies (Cassie & Oscar), baking, all things sweet or garlicky, a good cup of coffee, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, 50s & 60s rock n' roll, Motown, polkas, theater, and cheering on the Nats (except when the Cubbies were in town.) She was every bit a school-mom, as well as an involved den and scouting mother.

Janice's greatest joy was her son, Michael. Her love for him was unconditional; she was sensitive to his living with and adapting to her disability by modeling for him the art of the possible.

Daughter of the late Leon and Virginia (Grillo) Swieca, Janice is survived by her adored son Michael, husband Joe, beloved sister "Karen Annie" (Luciano) Popa, nephews Alexander (Kim) Popa, Andrew Popa, grandnieces Lillian and Madison Popa, niece and nephew Catherine and Anthony Lascola, and "Bestie" Lisa Volpe.

Her family wishes to thank the Cobb County, Georgia first responders, and the Kennesaw Wellstar Kennestone Trauma Center medical staff for their efforts. They appreciate Thrive at Home for their long- term home caregiving services, as well as the caring skilled nursing staff at INOVA Home Healthcare. They are forever grateful to the exceptional professionals at the Augusta T. Maxwell Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for their extraordinary kindness, empathy, and skilled care for over twenty years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a children's charity of choice.

Memorial Visitation, Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Kolbus - John V. May Funeral Home, 6857 W. Higgins Ave. Chicago, IL.

Memorial Mass, Friday, May 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Monica Catholic Church, 5136 N. Nottingham Ave., Chicago, IL. Interment to follow at St. Adalbert Cemetery.