Janell Denham, 87, of Marseilles, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2025. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, April 18 at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Millington Cemetery in Millington, IL.
Janell was born February 3, 1938, in Sheridan, MO, to Pat and Janice (DuBois) Dowis.
At the age of eight, Janell moved with her family to Orange, CA, where her family had orange groves, and she developed her love of gardening and the outdoors. She graduated from Olive University with an associate’s degree in drafting. She married and had six children. The family later moved to IL and over time purchased land and developed Dowis Ranch, where she and her son, Eric, grew and sold Daylilies and Irises. Janell spent years providing food and shelter to hundreds of cats and dogs. She was a talented seamstress, sewing clothes for herself, her children, and her children’s dolls. Janell enjoyed crocheting and made several items for family and friends. She journaled every day, leaving over a hundred journals. She also enjoyed going to auctions and pizza parties.
Janell is survived by her five children, Robin (Kerry) Taylor, April (David Lehman) Denham, James “JD” Denham, Dawn (Jim Holtz) Denham, and Iris (Bill) Cunico; her six grandchildren, Turell, Holden, Kendall, Logan, Evee (Matt), and Emmy; her four great grandchildren, LyRea, Myles, Freddie, and Arty; and her longtime friends, Elaine, Lisa, and Patty.
She was preceded in death by her son, Eric and her parents, Pat and Janice Dowis.
Seals-Campbell Funeral Home
1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341 815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com