Janice Cemeno

Obituary of Janice E. Cemeno

Janice E. Cemeno, (nee Pfeifer), age 82, of Joliet, passed away Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Joliet Area Community Hospice Home, with her loving family by her side.

Born September 29, 1935 in Steger, IL, she was the daughter of Jack and Flossie (nee Goff) Pfeifer, and was a graduate of Bloom Township High School.

In 1976, Janice and her husband, Joseph, realized their dream of operating a restaurant, and opened an Aurelio’s franchise in Marycrest Shopping Center, where they were located for 10 years prior to moving the restaurant to the corner of Jefferson Street and Essington Road, where they were located for an additional 10 years and where the first Joe’s Dugout was established.  The family business, which became known as Cemeno’s Pizza, then relocated to their current location in Joliet, and their food and hospitality have been a Joliet tradition for over 40 years.

Jan was an active and faithful member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, where she was an active volunteer and involved with the Light of the World Prayer Group, and the Renew Group, along with many other parish activities.

Prayer was the cornerstone of her life.  She sought out the forgotten, the lonely, the sick and the grieving, and poured her love into them.  She adopted so many young people into her heart and called them her own.  She opened her home to employees of the restaurant, never turning away anyone who needed her for help or support.  It is impossible to fathom how big her heart was, how much she loved Jesus, and how she transmitted God’s love to all she met.  Even as her mind began to fail, her sense of humor and deep love for people never faded.   

Surviving are her beloved children, Jill (Lou) Glavan, Sharon (Joel) Hicks, Sue (Danny) Schultz, Michael (Joy) Cemeno, and Natalie (Jerry) Castillo; 14 grandchildren, Jake (Jamie Harvatt) Glavan, Ally (Bill) Cole, Ian (Annette Bellezzo) Hicks, Katie (Jon) Casserilla, Samantha (fiance Corey Archey) Schultz, Mark Schultz, Nick, Kevin, Faith, Hannah, and Maria Cemeno, and Ben, A.J. and Isabelle Castillo; four great-grandchildren, Hayden and Lucas Cole and Mabel and Penelope Casserilla; a brother-in-law, Tom (Polly) Cemeno; a sister-in-law, Carolyn Pfeifer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph A. Cemeno (September 21, 2007); her parents; and two brothers, Donald and Larry Pfeifer.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Janice Cemeno will be held Wednesday, March 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 404 N. Hickory Street, Joliet, where she will Lie In State from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services.   Interment will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name to the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home would be appreciated.  Visitation will be held Tuesday, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Roads, Joliet.  For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com

Tuesday
27
March

Visitation

2:00 pm - 8:00 am
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Fred C. Dames Funeral Homes - Joliet
3200 Black at Essington Roads
Joliet, Illinois, United States
(815) 741-5500
Wednesday
28
March

Additional Visitation

9:00 am - 10:00 am
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
404 N. Hickory Street
Joliet, Illinois, United States
Wednesday
28
March

Mass of Christian Burial

10:00 am
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
404 N. Hickory Street
Joliet, Illinois, United States
Wednesday
28
March

Interment

11:15 am
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
St. John the Baptist Cemetery
Ruby Street at Clemente Street
Joliet, Illinois, United States

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name to the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home would be appreciated.
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