WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Janice Marie Strong, age 88, of Marcellus, MI passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at Edgewood Health and Rehabilitation in Three Rivers after a short illness. Janice was born on February 5, 1937, the oldest daughter of Charles and Alice (Johnston) Rolfe. Her early years were spent in the Kalamazoo area, but she had been a resident of Marcellus for nearly 60 years.
On June 13, 1964, Janice married Paul D. Strong in Kalamazoo. Together, they raised seven children at Cedar Lake in Marcellus. Together, Janice and Paul ran the laundromat in Marcellus for many years. She was a member of the Home Arts Club, the Red Hat Society, and the Marcellus United Methodist Church.
Janice enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was famous for her banana and zucchini breads, goulash, coleslaw, and chocolate chip cookies. Grandkids will always remember the joy of finding her homemade chocolate chip cookies in the goose cookie jar in the kitchen when they came to visit. Whenever there was a family gathering, she made sure there was plenty of food, and nobody went away hungry. She loved all the activities on Cedar Lake. She especially loved watching the squirrels and birds at the feeders by the deck, going for pontoon boat rides, and watching the sunsets over the lake. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Janice is survived by her children: Nanette (David) Schuur of Dowagiac, MI, Steven Strong of Marcellus, Tamera (Michael) Rimes of Marcellus, Kathleen (Jeffery) Gebhardt of Petaluma, CA, Paul (Rachel) Strong of Albuquerque, NM, Jeffrey (Dara) Strong of Albuquerque, NM and Karen Strong of Benson, NC; as well as 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Sharon Sutton of Kalamazoo and a host of nieces and nephews.
Janice was proceeded in death by her husband, Paul, two grandsons, and her partner from recent years, Russell McGreagor.
Services will be held at a later date, per Janice’s request.
Arrangements by Family First Funeral & Cremations Services.
