Janice Lee Sopok, age 69, found her peace at home surrounded by her beloved dog children, Pablo and Layla, her only daughter, Keli, and family and friends in prayer after a courageous journey facing pancreatic cancer.

Janice was fiercely independent. She lived her own life and walked her own path, guided by her own unique compass. Her approach to her diagnosis was no different—she met it with strength, grace, and an unwavering positivity that inspired everyone around her.

She loved as fiercely as she lived, but never fully understood the deep love and admiration others had for her. If you knew her, you were special to her in a way she might not have always been able to express and often kept guarded, yet she carried it deeply within her entire being. She loved the water, whether it was a lake, a river, or even a simple shower, and found peace in tending to her home, playing in her yard, and spending time with her loved ones.

Janice was a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, and a confidant to many. More than anything in the world, she was a devoted mother and best friend to her daughter, Keli. She taught her kindness, thoughtfulness, and the importance of seeing others with compassion—to consider their experiences, not just their actions—and she will live on in the life she inspired her to lead, full of unapologetic adventures and endless love.

Now fully healed, she has been united with loved ones and her Savior in heaven, living vibrantly in all the things around us, her spirit shining through with that same sweet rebellion and beauty that made her unlike any other.

A Celebration of Life will be held to honor the life that Janice lived and the memories she so graciously left behind—time and place TBD.