Janet Dee Reed, 85, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at HolistiCare Homes in Elkhart.

Jan was born in Elkhart on October 2, 1939 to Albert and Thelma (Hemminger) Cummins. She married Richard (Dick) Reed in Elkhart on May 22, 1960. Theirs was the first wedding ceremony held in the sanctuary of the newly built First Presbyterian Church. They were married for 51 years, until his death in 2012. She was also preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter, Andrea Reed, great- granddaughter, Olivia Lint and great-grandson, Ezra Paul.

Surviving are her daughter, Kelley (Mark) Esch of Elkhart and son, Kevin Reed of Silverton, Oregon; granddaughters, Erica (Adam Coppens) Lint-Coppens of Elkhart, Elizabeth (James) Dwenger of Loveland, Ohio, Meredith (Tony) Paul of Elkhart and Keona Reed, of Brentwood, Tennessee; great-grandchildren Hayden Hines, Abel Coppens, Samuel Dwenger, Miles Paul and Quinn Coppens, and her brother, Gary (JoAnn) Cummins of Elkhart.

Upon graduation from Elkhart High School, Jan moved to Chicago to study dance. While there, she was also a teacher at the Engstrom School of the Dance in Oak Park, Illinois. She returned to Elkhart for her marriage to Dick and began her lifelong career as a homemaker and mother. Her work outside the home included being the owner/instructor at Reed's School of the Dance, while also working at CTS in Elkhart. After closing the dance studio, she was employed as a H.O.D.A. (House of Decorative Accessories) representative, and then a floral designer for several area florists before retiring in 2004.

Jan cherished her family and shared many close friendships throughout her life, including some which began in kindergarten at Weston Elementary. "Grandma Jan" loved being there for all the milestones in the lives of her grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, entertaining, decorating, traveling, shopping with the girls, and cheering for the Green Bay Packers. She was always the first to show up with a meal and a hug to comfort a friend in need. Over the years, she also gifted numerous family members and friends with floral arrangements for showers, weddings, funerals and other significant life events.

The family would like to thank Shelley and her loving care team at HolistiCare Homes, as well as the staff of Heart 2 Heart Hospice, for their compassion and support.

Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life for Jan on Saturday, March 22 at Beulah Missionary Church, 57595 Old County Road 17 in Goshen. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Ronald McDonald House Charities (South Bend, Indiana or Baltimore, Maryland) or to Ryan's House, Goshen, Indiana.

Billings Funeral Home and Altera Cremation Service has been entrusted with Jan's care.

Those that wish to send a condolence or share a memory may do so at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.