Obituary of Janet Marie Hamer

The sun rose on the life for Janet Marie Hamer on March 17, 1948, in Gary, Indiana when she was born to John R. Spicer and Annie Mae Dillon Spicer. She was the first out of five children born to this union. Janet had one brother, John Jr., and three sisters, Francis, Lolita, and Carla. As a child, she was taller than her classmates in kindergarten. Her grandmother would always tell her to go outside and get some sun, but it was really because she talked to much. Educated in the public school system, Janet graduated from Roosevelt High School in Gary. During high school she met Waddell Wallace Hamer and in May of 1969 they were married at St. John Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana. The marriage consisted of the whole family going to Wisconsin Dells to see the water dance and attending the Native American Festival. The marriage was later dissolved. Later in life, Janet met Oliver Coleman at the bus stop on Colfax and Monaco and in September of 1986 they were united in marriage in Denver, Colorado. They were together for 36 years, until her passing. She was the proud and devoted mother of three children, Deana, Tondalear, and Brian. The children remember licking the cake bowl after the cakes were in the pan and her pressing hair at the stove with a hot comb and curling iron. Janet was blessed with two grandchildren, Julius and Shawnnon and two great grandchildren, Ja’Laya and Jazlynn. They called her “Grandma” and “Manma”. Her great granddaughter Jazlynn quoted that “Manma made the best ribs and sweet beans” and her grandson Shawnnon stated that she always gave warm hugs and kisses. They loved her dearly, as she did them. By profession, Janet was a Library Clerk for the City of Aurora. She worked at the Iliff location library for 20 years. Her co-workers remember her contagious laughter, being a good storyteller, having a good heart, and sharing her homemade or bought gifts with everyone. In her free time, she enjoyed socializing, game shows, and shopping. Her best friends were her daughter Toni, Doris, James, Judy, and Yvonne. They will always remember her for making good Christmas treats and thoughtful gifts. Her favorite color was teal, and she loved the sounds of R&B, soul, jazz, and gospel music. We will miss hearing “Have you lost your mind?”, “The day doesn’t start off without coffee”, and “I feel naked without my makeup on” just to name a few. Janet loved to travel when someone else was driving, and she made the best banana nut bread and mincemeat pie. This sweet, loving, kind, caring, dry sense of humor, and sense of fashion lady will be deeply missed. To know Janet, was to love her. The sun set on the life of Ms. Janet Marie Hamer on May 11, 2022, in Lone Tree, Colorado when she passed from this life into eternal rest. She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Carla and Lolita, and daughter, Tondalear Greer. Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Brian Spicer of Las Vegas, NV, and Deana Hale of Aurora, CO; brother, John Spicer, Jr. of IN; sister, Francis Willis of IN; grandchildren, Julius B. Greer of Thornton, CO, and Shawnnon N. Hale of Aurora, CO; great grandchildren, Ja’Laya and Jazlynn Greer both of Thornton, CO; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.