Janet Marie Cook Griffin passed away on Friday, March 20, 2020 at Kenosha Hospice Alliance House surrounded by her children and her friend, Pastor Charlie Hansen.
Janet was born on March 2, 1931 in Buffalo, NY to Edna Marie (McIntyre) Cook and Ernest Carlton Cook. She was blessed with a sister, June Muriel Cook Harrison and a brother, James Wallace Cook, both of whom proceeded her in death.
Her childhood was spent in Lockport, NY where she met her husband, the love of her life, Clarence (Griff) Griffin Jr. in 1947. They were married on March 3, 1951 at the First Presbyterian Church in Lockport by the Rev. Stephen Palmer. Their union was blessed with three children, Deborah Jan Griffin Giovannucci (Robert), Pamela Ann Griffin Zimmerman (Joel), and Mark Brian Griffin (Deborah Mary Kolerat). She leaves seven grandchildren: Michael (Angela), Brian (Erica) Giovannucci, Laurie (Salam) Bendahan; Joshua (Britt) and Kyle (Ashley) Zimmerman; and Mariah (Nick) Shandri and Cameron Griffin; also twelve great grandchildren, Tyler, Lilly, Ava and Aiden Giovannucci, Rose and Ramzy Bendahan, Calvin, Kira, Reese, Griffin and Brooks Zimmerman and Kenneth Shandri and many nieces and nephews.
Janet and her husband started their lives together in Schenectady, NY where her three children were born, then moved to Northborough, Massachusetts and finally to Kenosha, Wisconsin where she lived the remainder of her life. After receiving accreditation as a medical assistant in Buffalo NY, she was granted a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, and an RN from St. Luke Hospital School of Nursing in Racine. Janet was a registered nurse at Kenosha Memorial Hospital’s cardiac unit and with the Kenosha Visiting Nursing Association.
While living in Massachusetts, Janet volunteered with public school special needs children and at Trinity Congregational Church. In Kenosha, she volunteered at the First Presbyterian Church and at Kemper Center. Through their church in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Janet and Griff helped at the Casa Hogan Orphanage, arranging for a physician, as well as providing antibiotics and vitamins for the children. With much care and devotion, they loved giving Spanish-language books and bibles to contribute to the children’s education.
Janet and Griff were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Kenosha, Kemper Center, and the Kenosha Country Club.
Above all, Janet loved her family; was so proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; enjoying their love and laughter when they gathered together. Friends and neighbors were a special part of her life. Her passions were traveling with Griff and the children; music; art; history; decorating; shopping; spending time with close friends; but most of all, her faith in God.
Janet was a loving, caring, beautiful, gracious lady who loved to laugh and always lit up the room. She was a very kind and loving mother who gave her children understanding love. She will be missed by all who were blessed to know her.
Janet’s faith in God helped her throughout her life. In thankfulness for teaching, “I am a child of God”.
The family would like to thank Right at Home for giving much-appreciated support in caring for Janet and for being part of her family when the family could not be there with her. She spent the last days of her life at the Kenosha Alliance Hospice House, surrounded by family, loving friends, and caring staff. The family sincerely wishes to acknowledge the loving kindness of the staff. We would also like to thank all her special friends and neighbors who watched over her with all their love and support over these past years.
A memorial service honoring Janet’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at The First Presbyterian Church of Kenosha.
A memorial luncheon following the service will be held for family and friends at the Kenosha Country Club.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorial remembrances in her name to Hospice Alliance Inc./Hospice House, 10220 Prairie Ridge Blvd, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 or to Holy Spirit Community Church, 4120 51st Ave, Kenosha, WI 53144; or The First Presbyterian Church, 1803 83rd Street, Kenosha, WI 53143 would be appreciated.
