Janis Katherine Guillory Fontana, 75, of Lake Charles passed away Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024 in a local healthcare facility following a brief illness.

Janis was a lifelong resident of Lake Charles, a graduate of LaGrange Senior High School and Demmon’s Beauty School.  She worked for Mrs. Abate’s Salon for a short while.  She then began at Gaidry’s Men’s Wear where she will be well remembered for her 17 years behind the counter.  Janis enjoyed square dancing with her husband and their club during their younger years.  She looked forward to Friday date nights, a tradition she and her husband began in the 70’s; Steamboat Bill’s being amongst her favorite outing.  She was a great cook and loved to tell you how good her dishes were! She will be most remembered for her love and devotion to her family.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband of 56 years, Joseph Vincent Fontana; daughter, Michelle Hart; three grandchildren, Christopher Hart and wife, Jessica, Corey Hart and wife, Arrianne, and Emily Guillory and husband, Alex; five great-grandchildren, Temperance Hart, Dominic Hart, Carter Hart, Colby Hart and Blayke Guillory; two sisters, Janie Smith and husband, Gregory, of New Iberia and Joan LoConte, of Portland, Ore., and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her son, Peter Joseph Fontana; son-in-law, Bubba Hart; parents, Eustis Joseph Guillory and Theresa Opry Guillory, and a sister, Judith Marie Taggart.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29, 2024 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.  Father Ruben Buller will officiate.  Interment services will follow at Prien Memorial Park.  Visitation Sunday will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a rosary service beginning at 6 p.m. in the funeral home.  

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneral home.net.