Janet E. Hunnell

Janet E. Hunnell, 82, of Benton Harbor, passed away, Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland in St. Joseph.  Funeral Services will be held 7:00 P.M. Friday, July 14 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. James Whitman officiating. Burial will follow 1:00 P.M. Saturday at Hanover Cemetery in Morristown, Indiana with Rev. Quentin Small officiating.  Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.  Memorial donations in Janet’s name may be made to Hanover Cemetery Fund or Caring Circle Hospice-St. Joseph.  Those wishing to sign Janet’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Janet was born April 22, 1935 in Omaha, Nebraska to Edwin & Esther (Howard) Hanchett. She graduated North High School in Omaha-Class of 1953 and attended Omaha University & Purdue University.  On October 16, 1954, she married Charles W. “Charlie” Hunnell in Omaha.  Janet devoted her life to her Christian Faith and caring for her family.  She was a member of the Berrien County Baptist Church and a former leader for Bible Study Fellowship in Indianapolis.    Faith and family were the most important tenants of Janet’s life.  Over the years, she served in many ministries and Bible Study Fellowship leadership.  Janet will always be remembered for her sweet spirit, care and compassion, and faithfulness to others, as well as her great sense of humor, often playing the straight man to Charlie’s comedy.  She enjoyed cooking, gardening, crafting, painting, and quilting. With charm and grace, she ran with perseverance the race marked out for her leaving a pattern for her loved ones to follow.    Janet is survived by her husband Charlie; her children-Lynn (Jim) Saylor of Burnettsville, IN, Bill (Kathy) Hunnell of Lutz, FL, Tom (Donna) Hunnell of Fort Worth, TX, Mike (Susan) Hunnell of St. Joseph; eight grandchildren-Erin (Tim Boebel) Hallar, Emily (Dan) Guildenbecher, Jesse (Heather) Hunnell, Kristin (Earl) Hillaker, Laura Hunnell, Nathan (Kim) Hunnell, Katie Hunnell, Julia Hunnell; four great-grandchildren-Luke & Elliot Guildenbecher, Adelyn & Jadon Hillaker; and a sister Margaret Hanchett of Princeton, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Sally Barrett & two grandsons-Matthew Hallar & John David Hunnell.