Obituary

Janet R. Bose was born August 7, 1944 to Irene and Lloyd Weller in Joliet, IL. She grew up with her sister, Judy, in Wilton Center, then moved to Peotone, and next to Bourbonnais, IL where she graduated high school in 1962. She began work as a secretary and took a promotion with Armour that moved her to the northside of Chicago.

When she joined Broadway United Methodist Church, she met and later married Melferd Bose on May 20, 1967. Together, they built a family where she was able to find a small piece of farm in the neighbor’s yard and learn many lessons from her supportive mother-in-law. Beginning in 1971, Janet became a devoted foster mother to Terri, Tammy and Toni, then in 1972 to Michael, Sammy and Danita, and in 1974 to Rose and Angela. Brenda and Mark were adopted 1974 and 1976, with Jill born in 1978. Eventually her family grew to include three grandsons, Liam (son of Brenda and Ken Doherty) and Alex and Aaron (sons of Jill and Chris Deakins), in whom she found great pride and joy watching them play and grow.

She was Mom to her own children and many others, but Janet was also a great friend and loved people - always reaching out and making sure that she stayed connected with extended family and friends. Whether it was with her “Newberry Chicks,” high school friends of 60 years, the neighbors walking their dog, or her nurses she was always ready to chat. She talked to anyone but was an even better listener.

Many words can describe her over the course of her life: daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, grandma, as well as Elvis fan, chauffeur, babysitter, gardener, animal lover, peacemaker...

On May 7th, 2018, she ended her year-long battle with Myelodysplastic syndrome. While she has passed on to be with Jesus, her legacy lives on in the friendships that we hold dear, the garden that continues to grow, and the love she shared with her husband, all of her children, grandchildren, friends, and loved ones.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m., on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Broadway United Methodist Church, 3338 N. Broadway in Chicago. Parking is located at 618 W. Buckingham.