Janice Marie Parrish

Janice Marie Parrish has gone home to the Lord on January 7, 2024.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 1:00pm at Maple Street Baptist Church and repast to follow.

Please lift this family up in prayer during the days to come.

Janice Marie Parrish was born on September 15, 1949 to Rev. George Parrish Sr. and Lucy M. Parrish. She was the third daughter and sixth child of that union. Janice was a lifelong Des Moines resident. She was educated in the Des Moines Public School System where she attended Logan Elementary, Amos Hiatt Junior High and graduated from East High School in June of 1967.

            Janice immediately joined the work force with Bankers Life Insurance Co. (Principal), upon graduation. She worked within the claims services department. Janice left Principal in 1999 and joined Des Moines Public Schools in food services. She held this position until 2017, when she retired permanently.

            Janice accepted Christ at an early age (preteen) and was baptized by her father, Rev. George Parrish Sr., at Maple Street Baptist Church. She was a member of the Maple Leaf, Young Adult and The New Inspirations, all choirs at Maple Street. Janice also served on the Junior Usher board. She participated in the Iowa State Baptist Convention and attended the National Baptist Convention as well.

            Janice loved to travel. She would visit her brother, Ernie, and his family every other year with her mother, Lucy, and sister, Judy. Janice would visit St. Louis, Missouri to see Aunt Hazel Rivers and her mother’s sisters when she wasn’t in Georgia. Janice continued traveling until mother’s health began failing.

            Janice loved to shop. She would go to every grocery store known looking for bargains every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Janice moved in with her sister Judy, who was her best friend after mom’s passing. She continued to shop with Judy.

            Janice was also an avid reader. She always had a book next to her wherever she sat. She would watch crime and game shows on T.V. when not reading. If Janice was interrupted, she would definitely inform you that you were bugging her.

            Preceding Janice and meeting her in eternity when transitioning on January 7, 2024 at 2:45 a.m. were her parents, Rev. George and Lucy Parrish; sister, Brenda; brother, George Jr. and her little sister and best friend, Judy.

            Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Wilma Bruce; brothers, Albert Parrish Sr., Ernest Parrish, Terry Parrish and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and good friends.