Graveside services for Janet Ione Hodges Mills, 80, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm Wednesday at Clinton Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Wednesday at Clinton Presbyterian Church. Janet died Sunday, Apr. 22, 2018, at her home, after a valiant battle with cancer.
She was born Dec. 11, 1937, in Lawrence, the daughter of Martina Pugh Hodges and Harold Hodges. She graduated from Lawrence High School. She had worked at Mills Auto Salvage, Sallie Mae, DST, and retired from the Kansas University Endowment Association. Janet volunteered at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Trinity In-Home Care, where she enjoyed her ‘second’ family – Megan, John, Caitlin, & Karen. She was a past member of Ottawa and Happy Times Square Dance Club.
Janet married Charles A. ‘Charlie’ Mills on Apr. 19, 1954. They enjoyed 59 years of marriage before Charlie preceded her in death in 2013. Also preceding her in death were her parents and stepparents, Martina and Herman Hess, and Harold and Peggy Hodges. Survivors include two daughters, Debra I. Shafer (Harry) and Mary Ann Wieneman (Richard); grandchildren Jason and Christopher Shafer,; great grandchildren Charles, McKensie, and Carter Shafer O’Dell, Jessica Church, and Brooke Shafer; a brother, Charles Hodges and wife Margaret, who was like a sister to Janet; nieces Marilyn Colgan (Steve), Melissa (Steven, and Michelle (Jon); and many sweet nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Trinity In-Home Care, LMH Oncology, or Visiting Nurses, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St. Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com
My condolences to Janet’s family, especially to Mary Ann. I worked with Janet at KU Endowment. She was so nice and fun to work with. You could just tell what a good person she was. This is such a loss for her friends and family.
It was a pleasure working with Janet at KU Endowment. She was dedicated, funny, and a hard worker. I hope she and Charley are now having fun catching up… RIP to them both.
I worked with Janet at KU Endowment and she was a great person. I truly enjoyed working with her. My deepest sympathy to the family. A special hug to Mary Ann.
She was a gift to our community.
She was always so kind and caring.
She will be missed.
Prayers to her family
My sympathies to Janet’s family. She was a lovely person. She will be missed.
I have known Janet all my life. We were fellow “Clintonites”–growing up in or near Clinton. Janet was always a very positive person and a delight to know. She has fought the gallant fight again her illnesses. She will be sorely missed by everyone who loved and knew her. Mary Demeritt Gordon
Have known Charley and Janet most of my life, good and caring couple–R.I.P
I had so much fun working with Janet at Sallie Mae! Janet was a thoughtful and wonderful lady! You will be missed! Love you Janet!
Janet started volunteering with Trinity In-Home Care as our front-desk receptionist over 5 years ago, and has been at that desk nearly every weekday since then. If we had tried to hire someone like her, it would never have happened. She was a gift to Trinity In-Home Care that we could have never have asked for. She has been our lucky penny!
Janet started off saying she’d volunteer with us for one month, one day a week. She came more and more, and before we knew it, she was here every day! Her welcoming warmth, great humor and dedication has touch hundreds and hundreds of lives at Trinity In-Home Care– from our caregivers, to our clients, to all our community partners. Her voice greeted people over the phone, her smile greeted people when they came in our door.
We love Janet dearly; she is an inspiration! We miss her so much.
Our love to her family,
The Staff of Trinity In-Home Care
I worked with Janet at Sallie Mae and KU ENDOWMENT. SHE WAS SUCH A GREAT PERSON. WILL MISS HER DEARLY. HEARTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO HER FAMILY.