Janet P. "Jan" Cencelewski

Janet P. “Jan” Cencelewski, 83, of South Bend, Indiana passed away at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, October 27, 2018 in her home, surrounded by her family.  Jan was born on August 15, 1935 in South Bend, Indiana, to Charles and Nathalia (Spry) Lewinski, and was a lifelong resident.  She retired from the former G.L. Perry Variety Store. She was a very proud employee who started when the store opened, and retired when the store closed.  She had also been employed with the Bendix Corporation from 1953 -1959.  Jan also worked at the Kaniewski Funeral Home from 2002 to 2016. She enjoyed painting her ceramics, and was proud of her annual Christmas Village and Easter displays. Jan loved hosting Palm Sunday, making butter lambs. She collected lighthouses, clowns, and snowman statues. Jan enjoyed spending time and spoiling her grandkids and great- grandkids. She cherished her friends that considered her family. On June 7, 1958 in Holy Cross Catholic Church, she married Gerald Cencelewski, who survives.  They celebrated sixty glorious years together this past June. Also surviving are her four children, Nathalia Cencelewski, Wayne A. (Sue) Cencelewski, Fred (Chris) Cencelewski, and Ken Cencelewski, all of South Bend, Indiana; five grandchildren, Cindy (Ray) Vanett, Wayne A. (Kimber) Cencelewski, Jr., Lisa (Bryan) Phoutpannha, Brittany (Justin) Fish, and Sara (Caleb) Roberts; and seven great-grandchildren, Austin, Grace, AJ, Quinn, Avery, Zoey, and Ryder.  Jan was preceded in death by her brother, Michael Lewinski.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 2, 2018 in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.  Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.  A visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 1, 2018 in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, where a rosary will be led by family at 5:00 p.m.  Jan was a member of St. John the Baptist Parish and Altar and Rosary Society.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests food donations to the Northern Indiana Food Bank.  To send online condolences, please visit kaniewski.com.

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