Obituary of Janet Lois Wilkinson
Janet Lois (Berry) Wilkinson, age 88, left this earth peacefully on May 29, 2023. A treasured wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Janet will be greatly missed by those who were fortunate enough to know her.
Born in Chicago to Helen and Charles Berry, Janet and her brother, Bob, were raised in Elmhurst, Illinois. She attended Immaculate Conception High School and Quincy College (IL) where she met John (“Jack”) Wilkinson at the train station the day she arrived. They married on June 30, 1956, and built a beautiful life together. They lived in Springfield, IL and St. Louis, MO before settling down in Lincolnshire, IL where they lived for 30 years and raised their five children.
Janet is survived by her loving children—Mark Wilkinson, Matt (Angela) Wilkinson, Leslie (Curt) Dodd, Lisa (Mark) Easley, and Kristin Wilkinson; seven grandchildren—Erin Wilkinson, Thomas and Patrick Easley, Christopher, Michael (Lanie), and Matthew Wilkinson, and Abigail Dodd; brother-in-law Tom (Diane) Wilkinson and sister-in-law Angie Ewing; and nieces and nephews—Laura Glaza, Sharon Poling, Rob Berry, Megan Gallagher, David Wilkinson, and Michelle Vomund.
She was preceded in death by husband, Jack, brother, Bob Berry, and daughter-in-law, Donna Rafferty.
Janet and Jack cherished their Lincolnshire friends who shared many years and countless memories of raising their families together. Janet and Jack left Lincolnshire for New Jersey in the 1990’s. Upon Jack’s death in 1996 Janet returned “home” to the Lincolnshire area.
Janet’s next 26 years were filled with the remarkable friendships of Judy Topel, Ann Freund, Sue Thompson, Rosemary Joyce, Ann Flick, Ginny McCabe, and many others. These years were also filled with time spent with her dear college friends Jerry Boehm, Bob and Mary Cudney, and Janet and Tom O’Driscoll.
Janet will be laid to rest alongside Jack on their wedding anniversary at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023 with a service and interment at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Sheridan & Spruce, Lake Forest, IL. A reception will follow. All are welcome.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, 6300 N. Ridge Blvd., Chicago, IL 60660.