DOOLITTLE, Janice Kay (ROCHESTER)

DOOLITTLE, ROCHESTER, BRITTINGHAM, WEIG, THOMPSON, PRITCHETT, JACKSON, JOHNSON, MCQUILLEN, PARKHURST, OVERMEIER, VODVARKA, WOOLEYHAND

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/16/2018 at 02:28:44

Obituary ~ Janice Kay (Rochester) Doolittle
November 18, 1947 ~ February 10, 2018

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 14, 2018

Janice Kay Doolittle was born on November 18, 1947 in Whitehall, Illinois to Wendall and Hazel (Brittingham) Rochester. The family eventually settled in Smyrna, Delaware where Janice grew up along with her siblings. She graduated from Smyrna High School in 1966. Janice welcomed into the world her first born son, Jeffrey. Shortly after his birth, she met the love of her life, Steven Doolittle and the two married on February 18, 1968. Together they had two more children, Michele and Mark.

Janice worked as a Certified Nurse’s Aide for many years. Once she became a Mom-mom, she stayed home and took care of her grandchildren.

Janice loved her role as Mom-mom. She doted on her many grandchildren and her many great grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing cards with her children, going on trips to Delaware to see family, and watching the Hallmark and cooking channels. She loved to cook and bake, make crafts for her children, and sewing. Janice also loved hosting many summer barbecues for her family and friends, and relaxing with her beloved pet, Buddy.

Janice was a spirited woman. She attempted to take a bike ride down Nine Eagle’s road with Michele, Jody, Teena, and grandkids when she realized she might end up in the lake because of the speed she was traveling down the hill. She wore the brakes out, and her eyes were great big when she saw the lake in front of her. This was a family joke for years, but she laughed along with us whenever the story was told at family functions. If you ask any of the grandchildren, they would each have a story to tell about their mom-mom. These stories are now cherished memories to pass on to the younger generation.

Janice’s health took a turn for the worse and she was unable to do many of the things she loved, but she still continued to put on a brave face during her many hospital stays. Although unable to do the things she once enjoyed, Janice continued to bake many treats for her family at Christmas time when her health permitted. She continued to visit with her children and grandchildren on special occasions when she was able.

Through Jan and Steve’s 50 years of marriage, they made Sundays their day. It was their day to get out and relish in their time alone eating breakfast and going to Walmart.

Janice is survived by her loving husband, Steven Doolittle, Kellerton, IA; her children Jeff (Jody) Doolittle Kellerton, IA, Michele (Rick) Jackson, Osage, MN, and Mark Doolittle; her grandchildren: Stephanie (Justin) Weig, Sioux City, IA; Jeffrey (Lacy) Doolittle, Diagonal, IA; Emilianne Doolittle (George Thompson III), Dover, DE; Cody Doolittle, Kellerton, IA; Kraig (Caitlyn) Doolittle, Kellerton, IA; Dustin (Emma) Pritchett, LeMars, IA; Breea Jackson, Mt. Ayr, IA; Chase Doolittle, Kellerton, IA; Richard Jackson III, Osage, MN; her many great grandchildren Hayden, Kendall, and Mateo Weig, Jaylynn and Jaxson Doolittle, Karson Johnson, Ayuri and George IV Thompson, Reegan Doolittle, Karter Doolittle, Kaden McQuillen, Alivia Parkhurst and Gabriel Overmeier. She is also survived by her sisters Gilbert, Linda, Susan, and Norma and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents Wendall and Hazel Rochester; her younger sister Nancy Vodvarka; her great grandchild Aubri Thompson; her beloved pet Buddy; and her brother-in-law Noble Wooleyhand.

Services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Officiating the service was Pastor Bill Armstrong.

Casketbearers were Jeff Doolittle, Mark Doolittle, Richard Jackson, Jeffrey Doolittle, Cody Doolittle, Chase Doolittle, Dustin Pritchett, and Kraig Doolittle. Honorary Pallbearers were Mateo Weig, Kendall Weig, Hayden Weig, JayLynn Doolittle, Jaxson Doolittle, Reegan Doolittle, Ayuri Thompson, Karson Johnson, George Thompson IV, Kaden McQuillen, Alivia Parkhurst, and Gabriel Obermeier.

Janice was laid to rest at the Elk Chapel Cemetery in Decatur County, Iowa.

Memorials can be left in her name to be decided later.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2018

Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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