Janice McIlvin Grant

Janice McIlvin Grant, 64, a resident of Cape Coral, FL since 2009, formerly of Lynn, MA, passed away suddenly at home on Sunday, March 26, 2023 in Cape Coral, FL. She was born July 29, 1958 in Danvers, MA to Donald and Elsbeth McIlvin, now deceased.

Janice was of the Methodist faith at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church in Danvers, MA, where she was an active member of the church choirs from elementary school through high school. Janice graduated from Danvers High School, Danvers, MA, Class of 1976. She met the love of her life Joseph Grant in 1977. They married on January 29, 1983. They just celebrated 40 years of a great marriage this past January. Janice was a loving wife and mother. She was a stay-at-home Mom until her three children were older. She was very much involved in and supportive of her children’s school activities, attending plays and many other events, as well as always assisting with school art, science projects and homework. Janice had many part time jobs including selling Tupperware, Pampered Chef and Home Interiors. She also volunteered for the Gulf Coast Humane Society. Janice loved to celebrate birthdays and holidays with family and decorate. Halloween was always over the top for the Grant children!

The family spent many summers camping and sightseeing in the mountains of New Hampshire and Maine.  After a childhood growing up with dogs, Janice and Joe decided it was time to add Bonnie to their family, (RIP) her first loveable Pitbull. Bonnie had a litter of eight puppies and the family kept two and eventually ended up with a family of four Pitbulls. Janice is survived by three of her fur babies; Darla, Dozer and Bandit who miss her terribly.

Being the dog lover she was, at the age of 58 Janice decided she wanted to continue her education and become a Veterinary Technician. She attended Heritage Institute in Ft. Myers, FL from 2015-2016 when the closed but was able to continue her degree courses on online. Janice first started as an intern at Viscaya-Prado Veterinary Hospital in Cape Coral in 2018 and was eventually hired there as a Vet Tech. She absolutely loved working there until her death.

Janice had many hobbies all through her life; such as, sewing, making crafts, cooking, baking and board games but her favorites were her extensive, elaborate vegetable garden and her beautiful flower gardens and plantings in her yard. She certainly had a green thumb as did her own grandmother. Janice was very close and had a special bond with her granddaughter, Aryanna, as she helped raise her and they spent many hours together on a daily basis playing board games, working on projects, or outside in the gardens. She misses Nana very much.

She is survived by her loving husband, Joseph Grant; children, Elisa Larkin (Edward (Magoo) Ehrhardt) of Cape Coral, Julie Surace (Jonathan) of Fort Myers, and Thomas Grant (Miranda) of Cape Coral; siblings, Karla  McIlvin Causer (Kerry) of Hampton, NH, and Donald McIlvin (Mary) of Maynard, MA; grandchildren, Aryanna Ehrhardt of Cape Coral and Kaylin Fumia of Cape Coral; plus many special cousins, aunts and uncles.

A Celebration of Janice’s Life will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023. Friends and family are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions in memory of Janice McIlvin Grant may be sent to: Cape Coral Animal Rescue, 325 SW 2^nd Avenue, Cape Coral, FL 33991, or online at https://capecoralanimalshelter.com/donate/give/now OR Gulf Coast Humane Society, 2010 Arcadia Road, Fort Myers, FL 33916 or online at https://Donatenow.networkforgood.org/gulfcoasthumansociety.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.