Obituary of Janice Irene Cressman

Janice Irene Cressman, 78, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2024, with her son Michael and daughter-in-law Kimberly by her side at their home in Forest Lake, MN where Janice lived since 2017.

Janice was born to Roy and Hazel Whaley on December 19, 1945, in St. Paul, MN, the oldest of six children. She graduated from Central High School St. Paul, MN and worked as a roller-skating car hop at White Castle, where she developed her lifelong love of “sliders”. She became a secretary at 3M right out of high school in 1963. She worked her way up through the years, eventually becoming the manager of the Industrial Tape and Specialties Division, which she was very proud of.  After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, she made the decision to retire from her long career at 3M.

In 1968, she married her husband, Ronald. In October 1972, she gave birth to their first son, Christopher, and then Michael followed in October 1975. That year the family settled in Hugo, MN where she remained for the next forty-two years.

Janice developed a love of flower gardening at their home in Hugo. She loved tending to the flowers and pulling weeds as she walked around the yard. She also loved burning branches and brush in her giant burn barrel. Every morning in the warm months, she would sit on the deck with her coffee, smoking and watching the birds.

After Ron’s and Chris’ passing years earlier, she moved in with her son Michael, daughter-in-law Kimberly and three grandkids in Forest Lake, MN in 2017.  It was wonderful for us to be able to see her every day, give her hugs and tell her we loved her.

In 2019 Janice was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. She went through a year and a half of successful chemotherapy, which added over four more years to her life, which we are all very grateful for.

She will always be remembered for her kindness, sarcasm, dry sense of humor, and love of everything flamingo.  

Janice was preceded in death by son Christopher, husband Ronald, and brother Donald (Diane) Whaley. She is survived by son Michael (Kimberly) Cressman of Forest Lake, granddaughter Kaylie (Andrew) Prescott of Mound, grandson Samuel Frogner, granddaughter Alyssa Cressman, brother John (Linda) Whaley of Stillwater, brother James Whaley of North St. Paul, sister Marilyn (Terry) Luger of Oakdale, , brother Robert (Terri) Whaley of North St. Paul, sister-in-law Sandra Cressman, and many nieces and nephews.