Janet L. Oliva

Janet Leora Oliva, 68, of Paola, KS, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great grandmother, went home to be with her Savior Friday, January 17, 2014 at 8:47 p.m. Janet was born on September 7, 1945 in Kansas City, Missouri to Adeline Abby Violet Franklin Tumlin Pratt and Damon M. "Mac" Tumlin. She was in the drama club while in high school and traveled to all but two of the fifty states from ages 9 " 16 years and has also been to Mexico and Canada. Janet was married to John Robert Oliva on November 12, 1963. She spent the next fifty years as wife and homemaker raising six children. Janet was a "mom" to countless others who came in to her home and life. She ministered to many through missionettes , children"s church, crafts, the internet, in person and over the phone throughout her years even when becoming severely handicapped. Janet sang and played many instruments such as guitar, banjo, accordion, bass guitar and steel guitar. She also enjoyed crochet, painting, writing songs and poems, and gardening. She was preceded in death by her father Mac. She is survived by her mother; two sisters; two brothers, husband John of Paola, KS; six children Cassandra Lyn Roe of Olathe, KS, Rebecca Eve Cortes of Emporia, KS, Timothy Robert Oliva of Paola, KS, Martha Marie Reilly of Worth, IL, David John Oliva of Emporia, KS, and Daniel Jeremiah Oliva of Paola, KS; sixteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren, as well as many friends and "adopted" family who loved her. The family suggests contributions to the Janet Oliva Memorial Fund made payable to John Oliva. To share your memories of Janet or leave a special message for her family, please click the Share Memories button above.