Janet L. Elam passed away at 6:34 a.m. on Friday, March 10, at Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, at the age of 87.  She was a longtime former resident of Syracuse.  

She was born on May 15, 1935, in Herrick, Shelby County, Illinois to Ethel (Rogers) Hamilton and John L. Hamilton.  Janet graduated from New Castle High School in New Castle, Indiana.  On April 29, 1952, she married Marion Jackson “Jack” Elam.  They were blessed with 66 years of marriage together before Jack passed away on September 17, 2018. 

Janet was a staple at Wawasee High School in Syracuse where she worked as a bookkeeper and treasurer, she retired after 27 years of service.  Janet was a member of Dewart Lake Friends, past member of the Syracuse Church of God from 1963-1999 and presently a member of First Christian Church of Warsaw.

She loved her Lord and Savior and the first thing she would do every morning was to read her Bible.  Janet had a wonderful soul that loved and accepted everyone, always finding the good in people.  She was especially a saint for tolerating her beloved husband, Jack!  Janet was the “steady one,” a great cook and it was a treat to taste the BEST cornbread dressing whenever she prepared it.  A lovely lady has left this world and is now rejoicing as she spends her eternity in Heaven.     

She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter: Beth (Phil Johnson) Yoder (Peru); son, Joe (Pat) Elam (New Smyrna Beach, FL); three grandchildren, Brett (Daron) Elam (Marietta, GA); Adam (Jennifer) Yoder (Greentown); Debbie (Brian) Pinnegar (Bellville, OH); five great-grandchildren; and her sister, Joyce Fermi (Indianapolis). 

She was preceded in death by her parents.           

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. 

Janet’s life will be celebrated with a funeral service at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 17, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home and officiated by Pastor Matthew Rogers.  Burial will follow with a graveside service at Syracuse Cemetery of Syracuse. 

Memorial donations in Janet’s memory may be directed to Wawasee Community School Corporation, 801 S. Sycamore Street, Syracuse; or to Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 E. 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis. 

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website.