Janice Harriet (Bridges) Lacy

Janice Harriet Bridges Lacy October 15, 1925-December 17, 2019

Janice was an amazing woman. She was born in Lawrence, IL to Bertie & Winifred Edith (Cash) Bridges.

Her mother was a teacher & her father a farmer who worked for the Soil and Water Conservation District. She adored her 8 years older brother, Edson, who “could do anything” & was shot down over the Indian Ocean in WWII. She, however, was very smart & talented. She played French horn, piano & bass violin. She studied Spanish & French. After she graduated from high school at 16, she went to WSU Whitewater for 2 years then transferred to UC Boulder. After college, she went to Springfield CO to teach Spanish & English.

She married Ralph Lacy August 28, 1947 & they were almost inseparable for over 72 years. They lived in Springfield for a couple years & then moved back to Harvard, where they dairy farmed on one of the family farms for over 40 years. They raised 4 children, Kathryn, Marjorie Carpenter, Donald (Lisa) & Debrah (Steve) Rath.

Janice was a room mother, 4-H leader, Sunday School teacher, she sang in choir & rang bells in bell choir, a member of First United Methodist Church since she was born, Order of Eastern Star, United Methodist Women & Philathea. She was an amazing professional cake decorator. She played piano for Ralph, which he loved. They farmed together, everything from raising calves & milking cows to baling hay & picking rocks! After they sold the cows & rented the land, they traveled, mostly in their 5th wheel. They visited all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada & Mexico plus a few countries in Europe. They loved to travel! Even after her stroke, they enjoyed New Orleans, Puerto Rico, Cancun. She adored her kids, grand kids & greats!

She is survived, along with Ralph & her children, by 13 grandchildren, John, Martin (Tishia) & Sara Johansen, Lee (Jenn), Paul Carpenter & Faon (Tony) Grandinetti; Emily (Jon) Forester, Linda (Bobby) Boykin, Sandy (Mike) Robertson, Kipp (Jean) Lacy, Melanie (Derek) Oleson; Derek (Rachel) Rath & Adam (Michelle) Rath & lots of greats! She so loved her family! She touched so many lives!

Visitation will be 10 a.m.- 12 noon on Monday, December 23, 2019, at the First United Methodist Church, 1100 N. Division St. Harvard, IL 60033. Funeral services will follow at 12 noon.

Family and friends may sign the online guest book at www.saundersmcfarlin.net.

For more information call Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home at 815-943-5400.

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