Janice Elaine Hummel

Janice Elaine (Bernhardt) Hummel was born on March 5, 1936 to John and Mollie (Lebsack) Bernhardt. Mom was born the fourth child and first girl of 11 children. She was born and raised in Loveland. In her younger years, as a teenager, she helped with her Mother and Father and older brothers in the field of Sugar Beet crops, thinning, hoeing and harvest season topping the beets alongside her mother on the topper. With no running water, her siblings recall her helping her brothers bring in pales of water from the cistern for drinking and washing. She and her siblings would have fun talking about growing up and how she helped her Mother and Dad look after them. With no indoor plumbing at the time she would help out her mother with the younger siblings baths on Saturday nights in a galvanized round tub in front of a coal stove! As all the siblings got older, she had more fun telling them that she always saved her bath for last, because when the bath water got thrown out, she had clean water heating on the stove just for her. Haha Oh, how all her siblings and extended family loved her laugh and that sweet little wink she would give telling a story. She told her younger siblings to never forget that. Those days growing up were priceless and cherished. They reminisced about the simple moments on Saturday nights, when she reluctantly turned off her radio stories, to help her siblings with their Sunday school lessons along with their Mom at their side. In 1954, while working as a housekeeper in Berthoud, Mom met the love of her life and sailor, Frank William Hummel. They were then married on January 23, 1955. Together they had three children, Constance L. (Connie), Frank W. III and George S. Hummel. Mom, Dad and us kids lived in the Denver and Westminster area until 1973, then moved back to Berthoud. While in Denver, Mom worked for Russell Stovers and Montgomery Wards and retired after 20+ years. Mom being the go getter she always was, was not content staying home. She began another 10 year career working for the Berthoud Schools in the elementary and high school lunch rooms. This position was so fulfilling for her, as she loved being around the children. Her love of children made her the best Grandma ever to Ryan, Luke and Latisha, and then to her great-grandchildren Taylor and Auston. Family meant everything to her! Mom was the most caring and giving person you could know. As young newlyweds, when Mom’s younger brother Aaron was ill and passed away, Mom and Dad bought her younger brother and sisters new clothes so they would have something nice to wear to the church and service. She did not stop there, over the years she would help or lend a hand to many in her family. She did that out of love for them all, nothing more. Her living siblings say "God truly blessed us with the best oldest sister that will be forever in our hearts." She loved to have family gathering and parties at the house she and my Dad built together. He would nail away, and she would follow behind him with the paint brush. We all also have some very fond memories of our time at the cabin, which they built together too. Mom is survived by her husband Frank of 66 ½ years, daughter Connie L. Wilkes and husband Cliff; son George S. and wife DeAnn; grandson Ryan M. Dardano; granddaughter Latisha M. Stechman and husband Matt; and two great- grandsons Taylor A. Dardano and Auston L. Carrion. Sisters Fern Whitson, Bess Ricketts, Colleen Depperschmidt (Wayne) and Cheryl Molander (Rod). She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Preceded in death by her parents, son Frank W. III, grandson Luke W. Hummel, her five brothers 4-day old baby, Wayne, Charles, Aaron and Gary, sister Sandra and brother-in-law Bill Ricketts. Graveside service will be conducted at Greenlawn Cemetery, Berthoud CO on August 17, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Pathways Hospice. www.pathways-care.org We love you! Dad, Connie & George