Janis (Barnett) Jeffris

Janis Jeffris (née Barnett), 91, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away on September 4, 2026.

Janis was born August 8, 1935, in Homewood, Illinois, to Albert Barnett and Nellie May Cowing Barnett. She attended the University of Colorado Boulder before returning to Chicago, where she met and married Paul Willis Jeffris. They raised their three children in Lake Forest, Illinois, before the family moved to New Port Richey, Florida. Paul died in 1992, after 30 years of marriage; Janis never remarried. She later moved to Chicago, where she lived at the Park Gables building overlooking Indian Boundary Park.

Janis was a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader, and for many years volunteered at Elfers Elementary School — where all three of her children attended — running the book fair and working the annual fish fry. Later on, she served as a room parent for one of her grandchildren's classes. She volunteered with the Heart Association and the Junior Service League during her years in New Port Richey. She hosted holidays for the family throughout her life, from her years in Florida to her final years in Chicago.

Janis was, above all, a hands-on grandmother. She took care of each of her grandchildren at one time or another throughout their lives — baking with them, hosting sleepovers, taking them shopping, traveling with their families, and helping run their birthday parties. More than once, a grandchild's family moved in with her while their own home was being worked on.

She loved swimming, tennis, and golf — including watching tennis on TV well into her later years — played gin rummy, bridge, and mahjong with friends during her years in New Port Richey, Florida, and kept up family game nights at her house well into her later years. Florida was where Janis was happiest by the water — the beach, the pool, the shelling. Later in life she got hooked on Turkish soap operas, a running joke in the family. She was known to perform water ballet in the pool in Florida — Laura and her friends were especially fond of getting her to do it, including once for Laura's son, Finlay. She was an avid seashell collector, a habit she picked up from her mother-in-law in Port Royal, Naples, and passed down to her children and grandchildren. She was, by her family's account, more than a little devoted to Princess Diana. She also made, by consensus, the best chocolate mousse and buttercream frosting in the family.

Janis had a sharp wit and no patience for fuss. Her signature line, delivered whenever she handed someone a tissue from her purse: "It's crumpled, but clean." She wasn't perfect, and she'd be the first to say so — but she pushed her kids to learn from their mistakes and do better.
Janis was also fortunate in the friendship of Dawn, Robin, and Monica, longtime friends who, especially in her final years, showed up again and again for both Janis and the family — driving her to appointments, checking in, and treating her as family.

Janis is survived by her three children: Jennifer Jeffris (Douglas Hanrahan), Paul Jeffris (Karrie Jeffris), and Laura Jeffris (Gregory Simonian); her grandchildren Jane Hanrahan (Michael Cagan), May Hanrahan, Kira Jeffris, River Jeffris, Matthew Jeffris, Finlay Simonian, and Daisy Simonian; her great-grandson, Joshua Cagan; and her sister, Tamra Barnett Schultz (Howard Schultz).

Janis will be cremated, and her ashes will be interred at Christ Church in Winnetka, alongside her husband, Paul. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, IL