Janet M. Kanicki

Janet M. Kanicki
(Smigiel)
Essexville, Michigan
Janet Marie (Smigiel) Kanicki, age 83, our loving mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Easter Sunday morning, April 9, 2023 at Brian's House. "Grandma Jan" was truly a gift from God to all who knew her and is dearly missed by her family, countless extended-family friends, and co-workers. The daughter of the late Stanley and Irene (Janasik) Smigiel, she was born on September 3, 1939 in Bay City, Michigan. Janet graduated from St. Stanislaus Kostka High School and there she married the love of her life, Walter (Walt) J. Kanicki. They were married for 56 years until his death March 23, 2014.
Grandma Jan was a kindred spirit to all; she radiated love to everyone she met. She made everyone feel loved and included. She was present and engaged in the lives of all touched by her love. She had a wonderful sense of humor and dearly enjoyed supporting her children, grandchildren and all her extended family of friends in life, sports, activities, traveling. She was an employee at The Dow Bay Area Family YMCA in the "Kid's Zone" where she loved taking care of the children. Her service at the YMCA brought her as much joy as she gave to all who crossed paths with her. She was also a fitness-advocate who was committed to her own healthcare at the YMCA by swimming and cycling. She worked for over 25 years in the medical field as support staff and was proud to serve many local Doctors in their respective practices.
Grandma Jan had a truly amazing heart with a joyful love for the Lord. She and Walt raised their 7 children in Bay City, MI at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Together she and Walt successfully managed his sports medicine rehabilitation business and his high school teaching and athletic training career at Bay City Central High School. In her later years, she attended St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, Essexville. She was an active participant at Hopevale Church, both Saginaw and Bay City campuses. She was a member of the Hopevale Bitzer Community Group which was especially dear to her heart.
Janet is survived by 6 children, Keith (Tonya) Kanicki, Bridget Kanicki, Bonnie Kanicki, Kris Kanicki, Becky (Matt) Manczak, and Kevin (Heather) Kanicki; 7 grandchildren: Ted Kanicki, Annie (Justin) Clubb, Ben Kanicki, Julia Kanicki, Bryana Kanicki, Stone Manczak (friend, Maya Olgac), Skyler Manczak (fiancé, Sarah Grace Dendy), son-in-law Bob Balducci, brother-in-law Nick Moszyk, and many special nieces and nephews. She missed dearly her beloved husband Walt, and those who preceded her in death; her daughter, Brenda May Balducci, 2 grandchildren of Kevin (Heather) Kanicki, her sister, Ruth Moszyk, her brother, Robert (Bob) Smigiel, and her parents, Stanley and Irene Smigiel.
Her family is deeply grateful to the McLaren Bay Region Hospital 6th floor staff and to Brian's House Hospice in Hampton Twp., for their amazingly compassionate, loving, kindness and care of our Grandma Jan. Admiring the selfless gift of Walt having bequested his body to Wayne State University Medical School, she also became a donor; they both served in life and in death to continue to help others.
A Celebration of Janet's Life will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023 at Hopevale Church, 4873 N. Center Rd, Saginaw, Michigan 48608. Pastor Nate Murray will officiate, and a luncheon will follow. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Dow Bay Area Family YMCA in Memory of Jan Kanicki "Miss Jan" Kidzone or Brian's House. Funeral home arrangements are being provided by the Trahan Funeral Chapel. For on-line sentiments: www.trahanfc.com