Janice Lucille Cave Kay of Wheaton, Illinois died June 10, 2025. Born March 13, 1936 in Waverly, Iowa, Janice was the daughter of Ethel Genevieve (Hunter) Cave and Earl Edmund Cave. Janice earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music, graduating in 1959 from Wartburg College, Waverly, IA where she studied both voice and piano.

At Wartburg, Janice's musical gifts, beauty, and vivacious personality drew the attention of a new history instructor. Soon, Thomas O. Kay was a frequent dinner guest at the Cave household, winning not only Janice's love, but also the respect of her parents and the devotion of her four younger sisters. Janice and Tom were married in 1959 and moved together to Wheaton, Tom's hometown, where they lived for 63 years until Tom's death in 2022. Together they raised their three children, Cathy, Bob, and John. Tom and Jan approached life side-by-side as best friends and true partners. Jan was Tom's fiercest advocate as Alzheimer's disease limited his abilities late in life.

Jan was devoted to her family, encouraging and supporting each one as they charted their individual lives. She adored her grandchildren and took a genuine interest in their work and activities and opinions. And nothing brought her more joy than listening to the eight of them banter back and forth around the table.

A strong and living Christian faith inspired Jan throughout her life. Raised in a Baptist church, Jan developed a lifelong love of the music and liturgical cadence of the Lutheran Church in college, and, after moving to Wheaton found a church home in the non-denominational College Church in Wheaton. She appreciated that College Church provided the resources to explore her faith with intellectual rigor. Jan served the church faithfully over the years. Early on she sang in the choir and frequently played the piano for the Sunday evening services, transposing and adding gospel flourishes with seeming ease. As the Director of the Seekers Class (a Sunday program for developmentally disabled youth and adults now known as STARS) she guided it during crucial formative years. Among other contributions, Jan and Tom served as advisors to the high school youth group during the 1970s and Jan was a member of and chaired the Board of Deaconesses.

Jan lived out her Christian faith through her unwavering commitment to her community, especially the most vulnerable and those on the fringes. She understood that God's love is for everyone, unconditionally. She was kind, encouraging, and generous to individuals, yet her work did not stop there. As a member and leader of countless organizations, Jan tirelessly advocated for public policies that would make systemic changes and improve the lives of everyone in need. Affordable housing and basic human needs were Jan's areas of particular interest. A few of the many organizations that benefitted from Jan's energetic involvement include the League of Women Voters, Wheaton Band Commission, DuPage PADS, Community Housing Association of DuPage, and the Chicago Area Project's Women for Economic Security.

The quintessential "people person," Jan connected with others instantly. Her warmth and care were evident to all she met whether longtime friends, bank presidents, police chiefs, business owners, piano students, restaurant servers, government officials, neighborhood children, colleagues on the many boards and organizations she served, or homeless individuals she might encounter on a drive around town.

Jan was a lifelong learner. She read newspapers daily and spent hours digesting emails filled with the latest updates on social policies she cared about. Jan particularly valued her participation in the Great Decisions group. She thrived on exploring the tough issues of the day, talking about things that mattered. She did not hesitate to modify her opinions if the facts, changed circumstances, or deeper understanding required it.
Jan is survived by her children Catherine M. Kay (Richard Cooper) of Northampton, Massachusetts, Robert T.C. Kay (Barbara) of Wheaton, John R. Kay (Catherine E. Kay) of Wheaton. She is also survived by grandchildren Rebecca, Benjamin, Andrew, Tom, William, Charles, Eleanor, and Megan as well as great-grandchildren Calvin, Arthur, and Maggie. Also surviving are sisters Virginia Ruzicka (Jack) of Marble Rock, IA and Rebecca Radel (Richard) of Stillwater, MN as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband Thomas O. Kay, her parents Earl and Genevieve Cave, and sisters Judith Kahler and Noma Cave.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to People's Resource Center https://www.peoplesrc.org/ or to STARS Family Services https://www.starsfamilyservices.org/

A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19 from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187. A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 20 at 11:00 a.m. at College Church in Wheaton, 335 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187. The service will be livestreamed through this link: Funeral Service for Jan Kay . Burial will be private at Wheaton Cemetery.