Janice Chipman

Janice Kay Chipman, age 63, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday evening, Jan. 2, 2011 at the Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart, Indiana.

She was born April 9, 1947, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Gaylon and Winifred (Bergeon) Chipman.

Janice was a lifelong Sturgis resident. She attended Holy Angels Catholic School and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1966.

She enjoyed riding her bike to local garage sales, where she could find items to add to her many collections, which included paperweights, teddy bears and crystals. Janice also loved going on outings with her friends and neighbors and helping them with outdoor chores. One of Janice’s favorite hobbies was playing cards, and she often said she “beat the pants off” her friends at Canasta. She was always optimistic and young at heart.

Janice is survived by her beloved companion, a Shih Tzu named Sophie.

Friends will be received from noon-12:45 p.m. Thursday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, where funeral services celebrating the life of Janice Kay Chipman will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. Canon Meredith Hunt of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sturgis will officiate. Private burial will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.

Because of Janice’s love for animals, memorial donation would be appreciated to the Animal Rescue Fund, P.O. Box 593, Centreville, MI 49032.

Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.