Janis Maples Johnsson

Janis (Jan) Maples Johnsson entered eternal life on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
She spent 30 years in ministry to the church in Catholic education and at the Parish level. The last near decade of her work life was spent working for "the nicest man I've ever known," Dr. Jim Pickering.
She would quickly tell you that her greatest joy and that for which she was most proud were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, her son-in -law and daughter-in-law, whom she counted as her own, her big brother Greg and her nieces and nephew.
She felt privileged to enjoy the friendship of her "sisters" Aurelia Montgomery, Jamie Hanson and Dawn Harbin and she delighted in all her friends at Pickering and Allen Orthodontics. She logged hundreds of miles with her Lakeshore park buddies especially Judy for whom she was very grateful. She spoke often, with great fondness, for all the people who extended prayers, care and concern during her cancer journey to include her Cathedral buddies, especially Libby, Jane and Dottie, her neighbor Kathryn and her dear friends Henry and Alice. Father John Orr was a source of strength on whom she relied more than he knew.
She was preceded in death by her parents Lois Newman Maples and Paul Theodore Maples. Her maternal and paternal grandparents, sister-in-law Sylvia Maples and nephew Jacob Maples.
She is survived by her children Kelly (Michael) Lay, Justin (Jeni Hollon) Manies, grandsons Jordan (Alisa) Lay, Noah Lay, Eli Manies and great grandchildren Rebecca Lay and Jonathan Lay, her brother Greg Maples and several nieces and a nephew.
A funeral Mass will occur at 10am on Thursday, October 31 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 711 Northshore Drive. Fr. John Arthur Orr will celebrate the funeral Mass. Interment will follow at the Cathedral Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Knoxville Catholic High School (www.knoxvillecatholic.com/make-a-gift/) or UT Cancer Institute (www.utmedicalcenter.org/give-back/give-now). Online condolences may be expressed at www.rosefuneraltn.com