Janice Marie Tatar

Janice Marie Tatar, age 60, of Loves Park, IL, passed away July 19, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, July 30, 2023 at Law Jones Funeral Home in Savanna, IL, with a two hour visitation prior, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and a gathering at Manny’s Pizza immediately after. Family and friends are invited to share in Janice’s life at lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Janice was born, as a twin, on February, 27, 1963 in Savanna, IL, the daughter of Virgil and Mary (Castro) Adrian. She attended Savanna schools, graduating with the class of 1981. In April 1984 she married Fred Smith and they were blessed with four beautiful children. They later divorced. She worked as a cook for numerous places including the Savanna Hospital and Head Start. It was while at Head Start that she received a grant to study early childhood education at Highland Community College. She tended bar at the Savanna VFW. She later went on to work at Rolling Hills for 11 years, then Quanex, in Winnebago, IL. Janice had some struggles at a point in her life, but turned things around. She was a proud member of NA, and made it a focus of her life moving forward. During this time, she met Raymond Tatar and his three children. They married in March 1997. Raymond tragically passed away in 2002.

Janice had a creative, free-spirited, and adventurous soul. She had a great appreciation for Native American Culture and enjoyed travelling. Her travels included memorable trips to Germany, Massachusetts, and Georgia. Some of her hobbies included choir in high school, sewing (like her mother, before her) and painting. Janice always put others before herself. She was there for friends, family, and strangers in times of need. She was the “neighborhood mom” and the “unofficial nurse manager” of her large family. She was known to be a strong and stern advocate for those she loved. Her family was her whole life, especially her grandchildren and her cats! She was dedicated to attending her grandchildren’s events and was their number one supporter.

Janice will be dearly missed by her children, Nicole (Joshua Estabrook) Smith, of Kendall WI, Adrienne Smith, of Mt. Carroll, IL, Brittany Smith, of Savanna, Francis (Amanda Flathmann) Smith, of Savanna, Chad (Taryn) Tatar, of Blairstown, IA and Cassie (Tony) Hickman, of East Dubuque, IL; 15 grandchildren; nine siblings, Virginia (Henry) Winters, Raul (Christina) Rubio, Marty (JoAnne) Rubio, Stacey (Richard) Morris, John Rubio, Tammie (Tim Guenzler) Adrian Sipes, Susan (John) McCloy, James (Sandy Walston) Adrian (her twin), and Toni (Robert Neal) Morris; her first husband, Fred Smith, her partner, Larry Rhea “Elvis” and her cats, Bandit and Boots. She also had many nieces and nephews and a large extended family. Janice is preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Mary; husband, Raymond Tatar; and siblings, Vickie McCune and Ruben Rubio.