Janet Kay Sims
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Janet Kay Sims, 50, of Du Quoin, passed away peacefully in her sleep at 10:03 a.m., Thursday, June 24, 2010 at her residence.
Janet was currently an independent sales consultant for Pampered Chef and an office manager for Jackson-Hewitt Tax Service. She had previously worked at Turco Manufacturing, MCA, Orpack-Stone and Tesa Tape as a research development engineer and quality control specialist. She was also a licensed massage therapist. Janet was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Du Quoin and Catholic Daughters of the Americas Chapter 795. She attended Sacred Heart School and was an honors graduate at Du Quoin Township High School, John A. Logan College and SIU-Carbondale School of Engineering, where she also served as President of the Engineering Club.
She was born Jan. 4, 1960 at the Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin, the daughter of Horace Gene and Betty (Emling) Sims.
She is survived by two sons - Robert Joseph (Angela) Sims of Louisville, Ill. and Joshua Ryan (Amy) Chitwood of Du Quoin; her mother - Betty Moss of Du Quoin; three grandsons - Aaron Dixon of Louisville, Ill., Ryan Chitwood and Zachary Chitwood, both of Du Quoin; one granddaughter - Kaitlin Chitwood of Du Quoin; one sister - Brenda Sims of Buffalo Grove, Ill.; seven brothers - Steve (Teri) Sims of Du Quoin, Rusty Sims of Winston-Salem, N.C., Larry (Dianne) Sims of Du Quoin, Jeff (Noel) Sims of O'Fallon, Mo., Don Sims of Du Quoin, Chuck (Deanne) Sims of Penfield, Ill. and Tommy D. Sims of O'Fallon, Mo.; two step-sisters - Vicki (Dale) Spencer of Du Quoin and Jaci (Randy) Gregory of Tamaroa; one step-brother - Tommy Joe (Dixie) Moss of Okawville, Ill.; seven nieces; seven nephews; four great nieces; four great nephews; four step nieces; three step nephews; two step great nieces and eight step great nephews; two aunts - Kay (Cecil) Daily and Pat Sims, both of Du Quoin, several cousins and many close friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, step-father - Tom Moss, maternal and paternal grandparents, maternal step grandfather, an aunt and an uncle.
Janet was passionate about her family and friends, her Pampered Chef career and her flower and vegetable gardens. Nana truly loved spending time with her grandkids and will be sadly missed by all who knew her.
In accordance with her wishes, Janet's remains were cremated and a Celebration of Life gathering was held at a later date.
Memorial Mass was at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Du Quoin with Fr. James VanOss officiating.
Friends called from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers, Janet requested a memorial trust fund be established for her grandchildren. Contributions may be made in care of Brenda Sims and will be accepted at the funeral home.
The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, support and generosity during this difficult time.
Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin was in charge of arrangements.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.