Janet Montgomerie Taylor

Janet Montgomerie Taylor, 87 of McHenry, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2024. She was born on February 22, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Robert and Larene (nee Rodger) Montgomerie. 

Janet grew up in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago where at a young age, she met her life long friend, Nancy (nee Neander) Olmsted. They did many things together growing up including joining the Girl Scouts of America. 

Janet was very proud of her Scottish heritage and later instilled that love of Scotland in her daughters. She placed them in highland dance lessons as youngsters and enjoyed watching them dance in competitions and various Scottish events. 

She began her college education in 1954 at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. In 1955, she transferred to the American Academy of Art in Chicago where she met her first husband, Jim Franzen. Janet and Jim married in 1959 and together welcomed their two daughters, Julie and Paula. 

After their separation, Janet married her second husband, Jon Taylor in 1976. Soon after marrying, the family moved to Wisconsin Rapids, WI in 1977. Janet was an incredible mom who made her kids feel cared for and loved while working multiple jobs. She worked as a bank teller, salesperson at a framing store and also held various secretarial jobs. In her spare time, Janet loved attending art workshops or working on her own artwork at home, she was especially fond of pencil and watercolor art. 

As their kids grew older, Janet and Jon moved a few more times but in the early 1990’s they settled back in Illinois to be closer to their grandchildren. During Janet’s lifetime, she held many different roles to so many people, but her favorite was grandma. 

After the passing of her husband, Janet lived in Vernon Hills and a Retirement Community in Grayslake. In her final year of life, she resided at White Oaks Assisted Living in McHenry where she was lovingly cared for by their wonderful staff and made many friends. 

Janet is survived by her daughters, Julie (Mark) Kerpan and Paula (the late David) Andersen; grandchildren, Katie (Josh) Matthews, Robert (Nicole) Kerpan, Brian (Boston) Andersen, and Kevin Andersen; great grandchildren Ben and Natalie Matthews; stepchildren, Kathleen, Christopher, Mark, and Jennifer along with their, spouses, children and grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Jonathan Edward Taylor; son-in-law, David Andersen and dear friend, Beverly Jones. 

Services will be held privately. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Stroke Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or by visiting www.stroke.org.