Janice Kunz

Janice Berenice Ririe Kunz was born March 30, 1934 to Berenice Stratford Ririe and Floyd Hyrum Ririe. She was born in Ogden, Utah. She was the third child of five: Bruce, Kenny, Mom (Janice), Karen, and Diane. She was their first daughter. Janice grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was active in her later years where she met many amazing people from Willow Wood Apartments in Sandy, Utah.
Growing up she lived in several different places, including Edmonton Alberta, Canada when she was in fifth grade. Grandpa was in the Air Force and stationed in California and Alaska. The family moved around quite a bit due to him being an airplane pilot. The family attended school in Canada. The school was run by Catholic Nuns. There was a “boy’s” entrance and a “girl’s” entrance.
At one point the family lived in Bountiful, Utah. The kids got mumps so they were on lock down for what seemed like a very long time. Brothers and sisters were the only ones to play with so they learned to work out differences and get along.
The family then lived in Sugarhouse, Utah. Mom attended East High School. During this time, Mom had a best friend, Dawn, who was dating a man by the name of Doug Kunz. She introduced mom to his brother, Richard. Mom and Dad began dating and eventually married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 18, 1953.
In January 1955 their first daughter, Debbie, was born. She was the first granddaughter. Aunt Karen would help mom take care of Debbie and she felt like mom was getting “special” treatment. That’s when the first signs of “sibling” rivalry appeared.
Mom and Dad eventually moved to Missoula, Montana, where their second daughter, Jeanette, was born in January 1961. They didn’t live in Missoula for too long before moving to Hamilton, Montana on a ranch that Dad purchased. When their oldest daughter finished 2nd grade, Mom, Dad, and their two children moved to American Fork, Utah until Dad would find a family home to buy. The family then moved to Sandy, Utah where Debbie graduated from High School. Janice and Richard then moved to Midvale and then to Taylorsvile, where Jeanette graduated from Hillcrest High School.
Mom always wanted a son. After many years, Mom and Dad were able to adopt a bouncing baby boy who came into this world on September 4, 1976, our little brother Michael.
Mom and dad were together for 50 years until his death in July 2003. Mom left this Earth in the early morning hours on Monday, October 24, 2016 and was reunited with family members that have gone ahead…they had already “gone home”. Up until her return home, she was being taken care of by her daughter Jeanette and her family. She was surrounded by much love and family. We will miss you mom but know you are in good hands until we all meet again.
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Viewing October 31, 2016 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, UT 84123





Celebration of Life
October 31, 2016 at 11:00 AM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, UT 84123