Janice Ethel Draft

In loving memory of Janice Ethel Draft (nee Johnson), age 86, who passed away peacefully in her home in West Branch, MI, on Sunday, December 29, 2024. Janice was born in Detroit, MI, on January 14, 1938.

Janice was a firecracker with a huge heart. She loved animals, especially her dogs, Mitzi, Lola and Josie. She also loved spending time with friends and family, and she particularly enjoyed spending time and lunch dates with her dear friend, Joyce, toward the end of her life. Janice was a very sweet woman, with a wonderful sense of humor who loved to laugh and entertain people with her stories. She was one of those folks who never met a stranger. She enjoyed meeting new people, having long chats with friends and family, and hosting large holiday gatherings. Parties were her thing. Fun-loving and always smiling, Janice was always ready for an adventure, be it a trip to Costa Rica or a drive down to Saginaw. She absolutely loved to shop, particularly for things that were purple. 

Throughout her later years, she spent countless hours volunteering with her church, working events like Christmas house, and fundraising events such as concessions at Great Lakes Loons games, county fairs and the Victorian Art Fair breakfasts and ice cream sundae booths.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, son Gary, parents Lillian and Michael Gyulveszi, siblings Richard (Rose) Johnson and Tom (Diane) Gyulveszi, Lois Gyulveszi, and Glenna (Ernie) Semak. 

She is survived by her children, James (Dorothy) Draft and Jeff (Nadine) Draft; grandchildren Heather, James, Joseph, Matthew, Ian, and Amanda; sisters-in-law, Vicky and Joyce Draft and Marlene (Tim) Burns, and countless loving great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

The funeral service will be held at Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. with visitation starting at 11:00 a.m. High Priest Mindy Jeffries will officiate. A luncheon will follow the service at Community of Christ Church, 443 E. Houghton Ave., West Branch.

A graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Michigan Memorial Cemetery in Flat Rock, MI. 

Online condolences can be shared at www.steuernolmclaren.com