Janice M. Cordell (80) of Sullivan

Janice M. Cordell, 80, of Sullivan, went to be with the Lord at 4:13 p.m. on Monday, November 18, 2024 in Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Care Center, Mattoon.

Celebration of Life servcies will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 25, 2024 at the Reed Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Vail and Pastor Jim Dona officiating.  Burial will be in Stewardson Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to the Allenville Christian Church or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking here.

Janice was born May 8, 1944 in Effingham, Illinois, the daughter of Irvin L. and Hazel M. Quicksall Kessler.  Janice had been a typesetter for the Sullivan News Progress, a teller at the Sullivan First National Bank, secretary for the Moultrie County State’s Attorney and Judge Dan Flannell and a receptionist for Agri-Fab in Sullivan.  She had been a member of the Smyser Christian Church and Sullivan First Christian Church and was now attending the Allenville Christian Church.

Janice was a loving mother to two children, Mark (Heather) Cordell of Sullivan and Brett (Robyn) Cordell of Lombard, IL; a loving grandmother to four grandchildren, Caitlyn (Josh) Davis of Sullivan, Chloe (Josh) Ellison of Aledo IL, Gavin and Ethan Cordell Lombard IL.  She was a loving sister to Charles and Vivian Kessler (both deceased), Norma and Chuck Hobson (both deceased), Glen and Karol Kessler (both deceased), Ivan Kessler (deceased), Mary (deceased) and Orval Mechling, Don and Ann Kessler of Stewardson, Helen (deceased) and Harold Brown, Janet and Ron Bietz (both deceased), Carol and Leonard (deceased) Reardon, Roger and Wanda Kessler of Stewardson IL, and Ron Beitz’s second wife Tanya.

Janice was a devout Christian woman with a strong, lifelong faith.  She passed her love for the Lord on to her children and grandchildren. She was greeted at the gates of Heaven, by many family members she had long missed.  Janice was such a proud mom and grandma. She loved following her son’s and grandchildren’s activities throughout the years. She made sure each holiday was a special time spent with family, and enjoyed planning all the special details. Janice was a hard worker, whether it was working on her family’s dairy farm as a young girl, or tending to her yard.  She made sure no stick or weed was out on place. She enjoyed spending time outside, working in her beautiful garden, or sitting on her porch enjoying the scenery. After retirement, Janice kept herself busy singing in her choir group, shopping at her favorite stores and dog sitting her beloved granddog, Parmalee. Janice was so excited to earn the title of Great Grandma.  

Although we wish she was able to meet them, she will now be the special guardian angel for her great grandchildren. Although Janice is no longer physically here with us, her warm smile, pretty eyes and ornery jokes will live on in our hearts. She has finally received the gift of eternal life with her Lord, and there is peace knowing we will see her again one day in the Kingdom of Heaven.