Janice (Sewell) Melchert Sparks, 85 years young, but never acted a day over 30, passed away peacefully at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska on December 9, 2023, surrounded by family, sparkles and rainbows. She was born in Dayton, Ohio on February 1, 1938, to Chester and Elsie (Perry) Sewell. Janice spent her last days as she wanted, being spoiled rotten, and keeping us all on our toes. She was loved by many and was always the life of the party. She had a gift of making those around her feel welcome and part of the family.
She had an amazing sense of humor and always up for a good laugh, which is why Scare Tactics and Impractical Jokers were her some of her favorite shows, along with Murder She Wrote, Unsolved Mysteries, Judge Judy and who could forget The Golden Girls. She was a feisty woman; never to be tamed. She was always up for an adventure; just say the word and Janice was gone! Volunteering and helping others was always a part of Janice’s life. In addition to being a school bus driver for Mason County Schools, she spent a great number of years working at Memorial Medical Center in Ludington, Michigan, and with the Mason County Sheriff’s Department as a Victims Assistance Unit volunteer, and with the American Red Cross in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina. Janice was extremely artistic and loved baking and decorating cakes. She made a countless number of them for various occasions, not only family and friends, but for those who ordered them from Walmart where she worked.
For those who knew her, knew that purple was her passion, and she wore it often. She was an Aquarius, a true water bearer, she loved being near the water and always had a draw to it. This allowed her family and friends to have many of their fondest memories at the lake and in the sunshine, as well. This is why we will have a Celebration of Life in the Summer of 2024, just as she would have wanted, in the sunshine, surrounded by family and friends, all having a great time, filled with laughter, music, food and shenanigans, and telling funny stories until our bellies hurt.
She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren unconditionally, even when they didn’t deserve it. She was always there to lend a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, or a swift kick in the pants or a wooden spoon, when needed. She was a friend to all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed by many.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Elsie (Perry) Sewell, her stepfather Roy Setty, her brothers and their wives; Harold and Rua Sewell, Verle and Norma Sewell, and her brother Roy Sewell who never made it back from WWII, and her late granddaughter, Mariah Melchert. She will be reunited with her husband Robert Sparks, and her later in life companion/friend, Tex Doellefeld, and her former husband and father of her children, Charles Melchert. Janice was blessed with a large family, with whom she loved very much; Charles (Alycia) Melchert of Virginia, Dawn (Larry) Cabana of Homer, AK, Gregory (Lori) Melchert of Scottville, MI, Bradley (Dawn) Melchert of Manistee, MI, Michelle Melchert of Homer, AK and Tonya (Raymond) Morgan of Romulus, MI; her stepchildren, Deborah, Robert, Timothy, Karen, and John. She had 12 grandchildren, the late Mariah Melchert, Jeremy (Hilary) Cabana, Jennifer (Munsey) Cabana-Kennon, Jamie (Paul) Wright, Ashley (Dean) Krum, Ryan (Melissa) Dodson, Brandon (Janelle) Melchert, Rachel (Brendan) Brown, Chase, Regan (Donovan) Louk, Hannah Morgan, Blake Morgan. She also had 28 great grandchildren: Taylor, Tahlia, Ester, Jaelynn, Daniel, Drew, Hazel, Henry, Irene, Morgan, Jaxton, Simon, Brynnleigh, Delane, Bryleigh, Oaklen, Kensley, Rylann, Elise, Emery, Ella, Hailey, Sofia, Landon, Emma, Reid, Mariah, Elenora., (and baby Charolotte Janice Louk due in January, makes 29) and many nephews and nieces.
Arrangements by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
