Janice Ann Matthews

Janice Ann Matthews, age 60, cherished mother and grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend, passed away unexpectedly on February 27th, 2021 while visiting her hometown of Kansas City, Kansas. Janice's life and legacy will be remembered though her six children; Andrea, Emily, Lucas, Cheyenne, Samantha, and Matthew, her five grandchildren; Brayden, Kellen, Elizabeth Ann, Tiller, and Nova, and the countless others whose lives were transformed by her kindness and generosity. Janice is also survived by her two sisters, two brothers, and her caring mother, Bonnie Matthews. Janice will be remembered most, perhaps, for the sound of her joyous laughter, a chord which rang through the air and filled the hearts of those around her. Janice's hands were a symbol of her strength-calloused and roughened over time as those of a builder, a gardener, an editor, a writer, a musician, and most of all, a mother. Her strong hands held her children through the scraped knees and broken hearts of life, always lifting them from their pain and wiping their tears. Janice cared not only for her own children, but for every single soul she was graced to meet. Whether it be a screaming toddler on her last midnight flight home or a cooing infant at church, Janice exuded an energy that allowed children trust her, for their innocence enabled them to see the divine aura that the Lord had placed around her. Through her work with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Janice transformed the lives of many. She knew, deep within her soul, that we are all God's children, no matter our struggle and believed that we all deserve grace and acceptance. Janice was a lover of music, a dancer of whacky rhythms-her moves never failing to embarrass her children in the exact right way. Her voice sang the praises of the Lord, the melodies of The Beatles and Neil Young, and the lullabies which so sweetly soothed her babies' in times of need. Janice was a gifted and creative woman, expressing her love of nature and the dirt of the Earth in her garden-a passion she first learned from her very dear grandmother, Gran-Gran.

Janice would want us to rejoice now, in the love and light that so filled her soul. She would ask us to dance and sing for her, and to be silly. She would ask us to embarrass our children any chance we get. She would ask us to let our tears fall so they may cleanse our spirit, which is so hurt at this time. She would ask us to accept the grace of God through this pain we all feel. She would ask us to lean on one another, never allowing time or space to create distance. She would ask us to love one another-to be strong for each other when we are able, but also to accept when we are weak. We, her children, ask these things of all of you who knew and loved our mother.

Janice was a hero to many, and as her final selfless gift, five lives have been saved through her incredible decision to be an organ donor. Five lives will flourish, allowing their family and friends more time with the ones they love. While our time with Janice has been forever changed, she would feel great relief that she was able to give this final gift. To register to become an organ, tissue, and eye donor in honor of Janice Matthews, please visit www.sharelifemidwest.com or call 888.744.4531.

A visitation will be from 5:00pm - 7:30pm on Friday, March 5, 2021 at Amos Family Funeral Home. Please join family and friends for Janice's memorial service on Saturday, March 6th, at 2pm at Antioch Park in Merriam, Kansas. Words will be spoken in her honor at the gazebo near the Helen Cuddy Rose Garden. In her honor, a walking procession will take place as the service ends. Immediately following, please join us at Shelter 3 for refreshments, music and the sharing of memories as celebrate her life.

More information will be available soon as to where donations may be made in Janice's honor.