Janice Kay Coziar, 72, of Highland, Illinois, formerly of Granite City, Illinois, passed away on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, at Highland Healthcare Center in Highland, surrounded by family.
She was born on July 3, 1952, in Evening Shade, Missouri, to Elmer and Mary (Nee Hudgens) Crews. On Feb. 17, 1972, Janice married John H. Coziar, in Vandalia, Illinois.
Janice Coziar was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife and mother. Growing up as one of 10, family had a significant meaning to her. After she was first married to John, they did a lot of traveling on motorcycles and saw many parts of the country. With the birth of her son and daughter, her roles changed, and she was a wonderful stay at home mom. Always baking cookies not only for her kids, but the neighborhood kids as well. As her kids grew up, she supported them through playing sports and loved to watch and cheer them on. Her role as a mom expanded to every kid on the team. She also took on side roles and would babysit her great niece and nephew and one very special little girl. Besides watching sports, Janice did enjoy playing sports like volleyball, in her youth, softball and bowling. In her later years, she was honored with the title of grandma to four girls and four boys, to which she loved tremendously. Again, supporting them in whichever activity they participated in, spoiling them with treats and lots of hugs, and telling stories about the old days and laughing. She loved visiting with people and catching up, keeping connected with extended family and making sure people knew someone was thinking about them. She will be missed by many.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Mary Crews; husband, John H. Coziar; sisters, Neoma Kimrey, Lorene Greenlee, Connie Sue Crews and Brenda Crews; and brothers-in-law, Bob Kimrey and George Greenlee.
Janice is survived by her children, John B. (Kelly) Coziar of Highland and Jondalyn (Scott) Urbanowicz of Harrison, Arkansas; grandchildren, Sydney Coziar, Cameron Coziar, Olivia Coziar, Izzabella Urbanowicz, Ty Urbanowicz, Elgin Urbanowicz, Arizona Urbanowicz and Scott “Tater” Urbanowicz; siblings, Shirley Jo Kimrey of Roby, Elmer “Buck” Crews of Evening Shade, Darlene (Jim) Sheffield of Dixon, Albert (Jamie) Crews of Roby and Harvey “Dennis” Crews of Bois D’Arc; many nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Visitation: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Roby Baptist Church
Funeral Service: 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Roby Baptist Church
Clergy: Pastor Wes Mayfield
Interment: Long Hollow Cemetery, Evening Shade
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland
