Janet L. Whitesell

Janet Lee Whitesell passed away peacefully on April 14, 2026, at the age of 79, while staying at UC Hospital in West Chester, Ohio.

Janet was born on February 25, 1947, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Clarence and Jewitt “Judy” Coffman. She grew up in the northeast part of Kansas City and graduated from Northeast High School. As a young woman, Janet was very involved in her church, Budd Park Christian Church, where she loved singing in the choir.

In 1977, Janet and her family moved to Independence, Missouri. There, she became an active member of First Christian Church of Independence. She participated in church fellowship groups and continued singing in the choir. Later, she returned to Budd Park Christian Church until it closed and then attended Eastgate Christian Church.

Janet was a devoted and supportive mother. While her children were growing up, she rarely missed an event. She could be found in the stands at volleyball and basketball games, cheering at swim meets and track events, and sitting proudly through accordion recitals and other school activities.

When Janet became a grandmother, her grandchildren quickly became the center of her world. She spent much of her free time attending their activities—horse shows, band performances, show choir competitions, school plays, musicals, dance recitals, dance competitions, and piano recitals. She also loved traveling to Florida to visit grandchildren there and enjoy SeaWorld with them, as well as making trips to Indiana to spend quality time with family.

Janet retired from Unity Village School of Christianity. During the 30 years Janet was at Unity, she held several different roles, made many lasting friendships, and was well known and appreciated by coworkers.

Later in life, Janet developed a special fondness for Fiona the hippo, whose birth at the Cincinnati Zoo received national attention. Watching videos of Fiona growing up sparked Janet’s interest, which soon turned into a deep affection for hippos. In 2021, she moved to Ohio to live with her daughter Jennifer and her family near Cincinnati. This allowed Janet to visit the Cincinnati Zoo often to see Fiona—and later, Fiona’s younger brother, Fritz. These zoo trips were a highlight of her time in Ohio. Janet loved taking visiting family to the zoo, sharing her hippo photos and stories with everyone, and her bedroom was filled with hippo pictures, stuffed animals, and figurines.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Jewitt Coffman, her brother Jack, and her sister Carol.

She is survived by her children: Natalee Wagner (Scott), Jennifer Thompson (Shawn), Jill Griffin (James), and Allan Whitesell Jr. (Taffy). She is also lovingly remembered by her grandchildren: Allee Votipka, Haylee VanCuran (Jeff), Ryan Thompson (Alexis), Kelsey Parker (Tyler), Rylee Thompson, Luke Griffin, Sage Griffin, Carson Whitesell, and Cade Splichal (Pierce).

A visitation to honor and celebrate Janet’s life will be held at Speaks Chapel on 39th Street in Independence, Missouri, on Tuesday, May 5, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The family invites everyone to wear purple, Janet’s favorite color. Janet had expressed that she did not want her passing to be a sad occasion, but instead a time for people to come together, share memories, and remember her with joy.