Janice U. Stankus

Colonie – Janice U. Stankus, 78, passed away on Tuesday August 4, 2026.

Janice was predeceased by her husband of 28 years, Richard Stankus. She said more than once that she had found her soulmate, and they loved and supported each other for 28 years. They enjoyed traveling together, shopping at garage sales together, gardening and spending many happy hours with the large and extensive Stankus Family.

Janice was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1947. She was also predeceased by her parents, Homer and Hilda Charles Ullmann, her older sister, Barbara Dinsmore and her great grandson, Harrison Stankus.

Janice is survived by three of her four sisters: Victoria Ullmann, Linda Ullmann, and Natalie Ullmann; her husband Dick’s children, Elizabeth (Hugh) Puttman and son Noah, Mark Stankus (Ruth) their son Harley (Vanessa) and their children Vivian and Gordon, and daughters of Mark Stankus and Ruth Stevenson, Amber and Christina.

Janice graduated from University of Ohio in Athens with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. With her outgoing personality and friendliness, she was elected President of the OU chapter of Pi Beta Phi sorority.

After a short period working for a farming magazine in Iowa, she moved to Albany. In Albany she first worked as an operator for AT&T Long Lines and continued to move up the ladder at AT&T in various capacities, eventually moving into management. But the best thing to come from her tenure at AT&T was that she met Dick.

Janice was an active member of the Friends of Bill for over 40 years, making and helping many friends along the way. One of Janice’s other passions was cats, both loving her own pets and helping countless members of the area’s feline population over the years working tirelessly with the Whiskers organization. She put her creative sewing skill into creating and making her famous Cuddle Kickers, loved by cats from Coast to Coast.

Janice was a multitalented crafter creating beautiful individual cards, baking, needle point, cross stitch and crouched creations. Janice began one additional hobby that she loved, which was playing the ukelele. She first took lessons at the library and once again found many friends and many joyful hours with this hobby.

Janice joined Christ the King parish in 2016 and it had changed her life. She loved and was inspired by going to Mass in the beautiful church, filled with prayerful people to receive the Eucharist. She felt blessed to serve as a Eucharistic Minister as well as in the Visitation and Bereavement ministries, and the Sparc outreach program where she learned about serving God and the community. Many thanks to the Christ the King Parish, and wonderful friends for continuing support throughout her illness. Thank you for the prayers, flowers, cards and supportive visits during her illness. It meant the world to her and her family!

Funeral Services will be Friday, August 21, 2026 at Christ the King Church, 20 Sumpter Ave. Guilderland. There will be a one-hour visitation at 9:30 AM - followed by Mass at 10:30 AM. Internment will follow at Memory Gardens, Colonie.

Donations in her memory may be made to Christ the King Church 20 Sumpter Ave Albany NY 12203 or to the American Cancer Society (www.American Cancer Society).