Jana Griffith
February 17, 1962 - November 29, 2025
Jana Griffith, age 63, of Aurora, passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2025 in North Mankato, Minn. surrounded by family.
Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 9th at the Monroe Evangelical Free Church, 1001 West 18 Road, Phillips, Neb. Rev. Mark Dunham will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, December 8th at the Monroe Evangelical Free Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family to designate at a later date. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at
www.higbymortuary.com.
OBITUARY: JANA GRIFFITH
Jana Marie Griffith, the beloved daughter of Larry and Jolene (Miller) Fox, was born in Henderson, Neb. on February 17, 1962 and passed away peacefully in North Mankato, Minn. on November 29, 2025, at the age of 63 celebrating all she was thankful for while surrounded by family.
She was raised in Aurora and graduated from Aurora High School in 1980. A few short months later she married the love of her life, Wayne Griffith, on September 20, 1980. They built a life side by side in the outskirts of rural Aurora and grew their family together for nearly 40 years.
Jana chased her children around the state of Nebraska for many years watching every sporting event they participated in, while also not fully understanding the rules at each game. But she lived for her three kids and always cheered them on. Once her kids were grown, Jana discovered her love of traveling with her husband, kids, and other family members. She enjoyed taking multiple trips to Mexico, Walt Disney World, Las Vegas, sailing on cruises, and visiting sandy beaches. The sun, beach, and ocean were her medicine.
The recent years were hard for Jana in her battles with loss, grief, and life. She showed her strength and resilience with her husband and family by her side. Jana was gifted the role of grandma which kept her spirits bright. Jana's love of her children and traveling shifted as she was named "grandma." She loved her grandbabies hard. Jana snuggled, sang (most times she made up her own songs), spoiled, read books, watched movies, drew pictures, completed puzzles, played games, pretended, gave (and received) an abundance of kisses and hugs. She spent many hours on video chat, watching cell phone videos, and looking at pictures of her grandbabies. She loved them and they adored her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne.
Those left to cherish her memory are her three children, Andrew (Melissa) Griffith of Wayne, Tyler (Megan) Griffith of North Mankato, Minn. and Abby (Tyler) Butt of Central City and her six grandchildren, Jace, Lyla, Tate, Dashiell, Dominic, Griffith and baby on the way; parents, Larry & Jolene Fox of Aurora; sister, Laura (Doug) Swartz of Omaha; brother, Larry (Paige) Fox, Jr. of Aurora; three sisters-in-law, Cindy (Mike) Hansen of Gretna, Cheri Fierstein of Grand Island and Lori (Dave) Ziska of Aurora, numerous loving nieces & nephews, family members, and countless friends.
Published by The Grand Island Independent on Dec. 5, 2025.