S. Janell Opperman

Shirley Janell Opperman, age 77, of Plano, IL passed away on October 1, 2023. She is survived by her husband, Richard Opperman, and her two sons, Ted (Jeannine) East of Oswego, IL and Jim (Kerry) East of Plainfield, IL, in addition to grandchildren Allison (Kyle) Bak; Elliot, Tyler and Kylie East; great grandchildren Bennett and Emmett Bak, and her dog, Bodie.

Janell is the daughter of the late Jan and Maurine Vanderhenst. She was raised in Houston, TX, where she attended college and fell in love with her first husband, Tracy East. They moved to Naperville, IL, where she raised her children. When Tracy passed away, Janell went back to school and received her master’s degree to become an art teacher at Rotolo Middle School in Batavia, IL.

She later met and wed her second husband Ralph (Rick) Collier. Together, they moved to Yorkville and enjoyed attending summer festivals where they sold Native American jewelry. This hobby eventually led to their opening JoRics Trading Company in Yorkville, IL. They spent 15 years together until Rick passed away in 2008.

Janell continued teaching while she moved the store to a new location in Oswego, IL, and renamed it JoRics Gifts and Home Décor. Many customers shopped at the eclectic store-in-a-house with the big yellow hat in the front yard. In her spare time, Janell enjoyed country line dancing with her friends, which is where she met her third husband Richard Opperman.

A service will be held at Nelson Funeral Homes in Yorkville, IL on Saturday, October 7 from 1-3:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held in Houston, TX at a later date.

Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Home & Crematory, www.NelsonFuneralHomes.com or 630-553-7611.

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