Janice Alice Fredericksen

Janice Alice Fredericksen, age 88, of Lake Crystal, died unexpectedly on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at Mayo Clinic Health System – St. Marys Campus in Rochester.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm, Friday, December 17, 2021 at Lake Crystal Mortuary. Celebration of Life will be 11:00 am, Saturday, December 18, 2021 at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Crystal. Prior to the service, a private family burial will take place at Lake Crystal Cemetery. Please share a favorite memory of Janice with her family and view her service livestreamed at www.mankatomortuary.com.

The family prefers memorials be directed to First Presbyterian Church, 302 E. Prince Street, Lake Crystal, MN 56055.

Janice was born March 28, 1933 on the family farm in Cambria, Minnesota to Walter and R. Grace (Hughes) Meredith. While attending Lake Crystal High School, Janice was introduced to John Fredericksen, her high school sweetheart. They were united in marriage on September 20, 1952 at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Crystal. When John was discharged from the Army in 1954, they settled in Lake Crystal where they have lived their entire life. Through the years, family has been the most important thing in her life. Janice loved, supported, and embraced her family and extended family, and absolutely adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We have continued to hear from more and more people who felt that Janice was like a mother or grandmother to them as well; her heart and her “family” were huge.

Janice was a generous, thoughtful person with a loving heart and a contagious smile. She was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church and served as a deacon and elder, as well as faithfully participating in the Women's Association and the church choir. Janice was responsible for introducing Operation Christmas Child, a shoebox ministry serving children in need around the world; this was a ministry she felt very passionate about. She was also a member of the Legion Auxiliary for 66 years and spearheaded many activities and programs for veterans. Janice served on the MN Welsh Association Board of Directors, was a Red Hat, was a voracious reader, played bridge, organized mini-class reunions where they met multiple times each year, sang in the annual Gymanfa Ganu music festival, was an avid Facebook follower and contributor, and was a member of the Friday Night Legion Happy Hour.

Janice will be forever loved by her husband of over 69 years, John Fredericksen of Lake Crystal; children, Laurie Herman of Apple Valley, Mark (Deb) Fredericksen of Waconia, and Lisa (Curt Derynck) McConnon of Monticello; favorite grandchildren, Andrew (Jamie) Fredericksen, Megan (Nick Ellis) Fredericksen, Abby (Kevin) Gadek, Tony (Beth) McConnon, Rachel (Keaton) Anderson, Faith (Ryan) Kalmoe, and Charity (Mike) Yockey; cherished great-grandchildren, Penelope Fredericksen, Isaac Fredericksen, Athen Fredericksen, Charles Gadek, Sullivan Frederick Ellis, Lane Yockey, Cashton Yockey, Ethan Kalmoe, Elijah Kalmoe, Cora Kalmoe, and Ezra Kalmoe; brother, Ralph (Gayle) Meredith of Arizona; and many nieces and nephews, whom she deeply loved.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Robert McConnon; and brother and sister-in-law, Clair and Verba Meredith.