Canaan, N.H. —
Janice was born in Glover, Vt. on May 29, 1934, the oldest daughter of Frank Stimpson and Helen (Peck) Stimpson. At a young age, they and her three younger sisters moved to Hartland, Vt. Where she lived and attended school.
On Dec. 22, 1951 she married her High School sweetheart, John Russell. They lived in Hartland, where they raised their three daughters and one son. She became a young grandmother at the age of 39. For her 40th birthday, John bought her a grocery store in Enfield, N.H., which became Russels Variety Store; she’d always wanted to run her own business. They later enlarged the store to include a snack bar and restaurant, which Janice operated for several years while John ran the store.
When they sold the business in 1984, and bought a house in Canaan, N.H.; Janice went to work in the restaurant for the new owners, and then later worked as a cashier in the Canaan Cash Market. She also enjoyed helping out on the Canaan Lion’s Club Blood drives with her husband. Janice also enjoyed reading, jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, games, and cooking, especially baking for her daughter Roxie’s restaurant, Dishin’ It Out.
When John retired from N.H. Industries, she worked a little longer, but then joined him in retirement. They did some traveling across the country, visiting family in Arizona and California, making a stop in Las Vegas. They purchased a vacation home in Florida, where they enjoyed spending the winters with family and friends.
Janice was preceded in death by her husband John earlier this year, after 64 years of marriage. She was also preceded by her parents, and one sister, Kay Becker. She leaves behind two sisters: Nancy Marsh of Plainfield, N.H.; Sandra Perron and husband Ronnie; of The Villages, Florida; three daughters: Rhonda Lamica and husband Arthur of Hartland, Vt., Vickie Lamica and husband Wayne of Hartland, Vt., Roxie Lemieux and husband Roland of Canaan; one son Dennis Russell of Hartland; seven grandchildren: Angie, Tara, Josh, Curtis, Lee, Scott, and Jessica; and six great grandchildren: Ryan, Lily-Mae, Ella Rose, Levi, Alexis, and Dominic.
There will be a memorial service for Janice at Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon, N.H. on Monday, Jan. 9, 2016 at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Hartland Village Cemetery in the spring. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the VNA of VT & NH, PO Box 976, WRJ, VT. 05001-0976. An online guestbook is available to leave a message of condolence by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com.