Janice M. McKay

Our beautiful Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and loving wife Janice Marie McKay, Helps the People “Oyate Wawokiye Win” of New Rockford, ND began her journey to the spirit world on December 31, 2015 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND. Funeral services will be held at 10: a.m. at the St. Michael Wellness Center, St. Michael, ND on Thursday January 7, 2016. An all night wake will be held at the St. Michael Wellness Center on Wednesday January 6, 2016 with a rosary service at 7:00 p.m. The procession to the Wellness Center will leave the Spirit Lake Marina at 3:30 p.m. All drum groups are welcome to come and share their music. Serving as Casket Bearers will be: Keyen Omen, Lucas McKay, Jaylan Black, Charlie Black, Dominic Baker, Jacob Greene, Wayne Black, Mitch Omen and Joseph Lawrence. Serving as Honorary Bearers will be: Tom and Debbie Jetty, Vivian “Dolly” Lohnes, Cap and Mary Ann Cavanaugh, Perry Kopp, Leo and Viola Delorme, Tony and Vina McDonald, Larry and Laverne Sullivan, Vern and Velma Lambert, Chuck and Mary Trottier, Dallas and Renita Delorme, Terry and Ponchie Halsey, Skip and Darlys Longie, John and Ramona Chaske, Marla (Dennis) Azure, Boy and Faye Jetty, John and Alma GoodIron, Carol Black, Anthony and Tara Charboneau, Cynthia Lindquist, Frenchie Brown, Helena Littleghost, Libby Littleghost, Catherine Howard, Cory and Darcie Delorme, Duane Jackson, Connie Lohnes, Celeste Herman, Kim Cavanaugh, Patty Flute, Four Winds School Staff. Janice Marie was born on February 21, 1949 in Fort Totten, ND to Dennis and Susie (BlackFox) Cavanaugh. Janice was raised and educated on the Spirit Lake reservation. In 1967 Janice graduated from the Immaculate Conception High School in Stephan, SD. Janice attended and received her LPN license from Lake Region Junior College in January 1969. She was employed by Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake and St. Alexis Hospital in Bismarck. Janice also worked as the school nurse for the ND School for the Deaf in Devils Lake. She was the Director of the Ft. Totten Early Childhood Daycare Center and also the Director of the St. Judes Elderly Home. She worked at CCDP for a short time as the Program Nurse and in 1992 she began employment at Four Winds School as the School Nurse. Janice truly enjoyed her time at Four Winds where she loved taking care of the children. She was very compassionate with the children she cared for and most called her Grandma. In 2012, due to medical reasons, Janice retired from Four Winds after 20 years of dedicated service. On March 13, 1980 Janice married Carl McKay Sr. at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Ft. Totten, ND. They made their home in St. Michael, ND and due to flooding, they moved to New Rockford in 1997. Janice was a very generous person who enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her Grandchildren. She loved to take family trips to Valleyfair in the summer, shopping, bingo, playing cards, Yahtzee and watching old western movies. She was well known for meticulously planning family events, her sense of humor, and sharing old stories. Janice is survived by her Husband, Carl; Sons, Frank Jason Greene and Carl (Mandi) Jr.; Daughters, Jennifer (Wayne) Black, Dixie (Mitch) Omen and Marnie (Joseph) Lawrence; 33 Grandchildren; 5 Great-Grandchildren; Sisters, Ernestine Herman, Bernice Cavanaugh-John, Ramona (Ron Eagleman) Cannon; Mother-In-Law, Herminia McKay; Step-Daughters, Ann McKay and Lori McKay; God-Children, Robin Smith and Jolene Crosswhite; Hunka Sisters, Arlene Littleghost and Laverne Littleghost; Hunka Brother, Peter Dauphinais Jr.; and several nieces and nephews. Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Dennis and Susie; Brothers, William Ambrose Littleghost, Benedict Littleghost, Herbert Rainbow and Duane Cavanaugh; Sister, Angie Littleghost-Shaw; Granddaughter, Dancia Dawn Jackson. A special thanks to the Sanford Hospital Cardiac ICU of Fargo, New Rockford Ambulance, Father John Cavanaugh, Greg HolyBull, Spirit Lake Tribe, Four Winds School, Cankdeska Cikana Community College, and to the many friends and family member’s kindness during this difficult time. If we forgot to mention anyone please know that it was not intentional.