Janice Lynn Rees, 79, our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on February 18, 2023, after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.

Janice was born on February 20, 1943 to Percy Elwood Hancock and Maxine Baldwin Hancock in Winslow, Arizona. She loved her parents and siblings and spoke fondly of her younger years and the time spent with extended family in Arizona.

She served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California North Mission from November 1967 to May 1969, where she met her sweetheart, Roger Elliott Rees. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 25, 1970. Janice supported Roger while he attended Cornell University and Colorado State University as he studied veterinary medicine. She cherished those early years of their marriage in Ithaca, NY and Fort Collins, CO. They eventually moved back to Utah and raised their five children in American Fork and Lehi, where they have lived since 1994.

Janice was an exceptional homemaker and a devoted wife and mother. She was fiercely loyal to and adored her husband and children. She took great pride in the work she performed within the walls of her own home, and her most cherished work was the raising of her children. She loved purely and taught by her righteous example, and her love and influence have left an impression that will not be forgotten.

One of her favorite places to be was in her garden, and she loved sharing her produce with family and neighbors. She was protective of her garden and trapped countless gophers, skunks, and raccoons over the years in defense of the fruits of her labors. Janice was also skilled at crocheting, quilting, painting, and canning. She could wallpaper a room, fix a sprinkler, or replace an electrical outlet. She was knowledgeable in legal and community matters and was a thorough record keeper. It often felt like there was nothing she could not do.

Janice served faithfully in many church callings throughout her life, including Young Womens President and Relief Society President. She had genuine love for those she served, and she deeply touched the lives of everyone around her. She possessed a compassionate and forgiving heart, and many have been cheered and comforted over the years by one of her quilts, homemade meals, or handwritten notes. Those who knew her often said she was the most Christlike person they had ever met. Perhaps her most cherished calling was that of missionary alongside her eternal companion in the Nauvoo Historic Sites Mission from November 2020 to May 2022.

Janice is survived by her husband, Dr. Roger Rees, and their five children Roger Jr. (Kathy), Todd (Anne), Stuart (Jane), Erin Wightman (Tele), and Lance (Heather), as well as 22 beloved grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. The family would like to express appreciation to Dr. Mower and hospice nurses Brooke and Kami, and to her dear friend Bonnie Evans for their attentive and loving care to Janice in the final months and weeks of her life.

The viewing and funeral services will be held at the Jordan Willows Stake Center, located at 2161 W. Grays Dr., Lehi, UT 84043. A viewing will be held on Friday, February 24th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The funeral service will take place Saturday, February 25th at 11:00 a.m., with a viewing being held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the service. The interment will be at the Croydon Utah Cemetery.

If you would like to view the service by live stream, here is the link below. The Zoom link will come on when the service starts at 11:00 AM.

https://zoom.us/j/96634095606