Janet Louise Tremmel Johnston

Mrs. Janet Louise Tremmel Johnston, age 81, born January 29, 1936 left us on March 12, 2017. Janet was born in Metairie, LA. Her family moved to Biloxi, MS and she attended Sacred Heart Academy throughout her school years and graduated in 1953. Janet worked for United Gas in Biloxi and became best friends with Barbara Kneble Bosarge, who later was her maid of honor at her wedding. In 1954, she met Richard Johnston and they were married on August 26, 1955 at Nativity Church in Biloxi. Their first child (Chris) was born in Biloxi in 1956. They lived in Hattiesburg, MS and Janet worked at Miss. Southern College while Richard attended school and played football. Their second child (Ken) was born in Hattiesburg, MS in 1957, third child (Rickey) was born in Biloxi in 1959, fourth child (Mark) was also born in Biloxi in 1961. Their fifth and final child (Stacey) was born in New Orleans, LA in 1965. After leaving Hattiesburg and moving to Gulfport, MS for three years they moved to Metairie, LA because Richard’s job with Shell Oil Company required them to live in the New Orleans area. Because Richard’s job was for seven days offshore and then several days in the office, Janet substantially managed the home and raised the children and did a damn good job! She was most proud of her childrearing and all of her children will attest to this fact. In 1994, while living in Belle Chasse, LA she and Richard opened an antique store in downtown Biloxi called Tu Js’ Treasures, opening three days a week. In 1998, they closed the business. In 2000, they moved back to Biloxi into her mother’s home and in 2003 moved into their current home in the St. Martin Community. Janet and Richard celebrated 61 years of marriage in August of 2016. Janet is preceded in death by her parents, John Oliver Tremmel and Theresa Claire Tremmel; her brothers, John Oliver Tremmel, Jr., Edward George Tremmel and Donald Francis Tremmel; her mother-in-law, Esther Hudson; her father-in-law, James Edmond Johnston; and her grandchildren, Christopher Joseph Johnston, Jr., Rianna Josette Johnston and Lyla Rosemary Webb. Janet is survived by a loving and caring husband of 61 plus years, Richard Edmond Johnston; her brother, Lt. Col. Robert Mark (Barbara) Tremmel, (Ret); her sons, Christopher Joseph (Stacy) Johnston, Kenneth Michael Johnston, Richard Edmond (Charlotte, fiancée) Johnston, Jr. and Mark Oliver (Debbie) Johnston; her daughter, Stacey Marie Johnston; her nieces, Theresa (Phil) Morphew, Laura (Scott Hunter) Tremmel and Suzanne (Richard) Browning, her nephew, Robert (Akiko) Tremmel, Jr.; her adopted daughter, Joan Charrier; her grandchildren, Chelsea Johnston, Jessica (Michael) Reed, Kayla (Ben) Webb, Laura (Vince) Prietto, Kenneth Johnston, Jr., Richard (Aubrey) Johnston, III, Ashley Johnston, Brian (Shannon, fiancée) Johnston, Jason Johnston, Brandy (Zack) Grutter, Angie (Kyle) Zill, Marcus Johnston and Lindsey Carter; and her great-grandchildren, Madelynn, Olivia, Amelia and Felicity Grutter, Gabe and Alma Prietto, Claire Johnston, Kameryn Reed, Lukas Webb and Daphne Zill. Janet was an avid football fan and supported USM Athletics, as well as being an original season ticket holder of the New Orleans Saints. Janet and Richard have a football scholarship fund for USM. In lieu of flowers, donations or contributions can be made to their fund at the following address: Southern Miss Athletic Foundation, P.O. Box 15458, Hattiesburg, MS 39404. One of Janet’s nieces said “when I see the Eagles or Saints play with divine intervention this year, we will all know why.” Her family says she was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, matriarch, babysitter, aunt, great-aunt, cousin, godmother and friend to so many folks. As she travels on to her next adventure, those of us left behind go on with a piece of our heart missing. But instead of leaving behind a hole, that space is filled with hope that someday we will get to mean as much to our loved ones as she has meant to us. Fly high and give everyone a kiss for us and lastly, from her husband, Richard, she was his sweetie, his best pal and his lover. She will be sadly missed. The family wants to thank the doctors, nurses and techs that looked after her during this difficult time. Visitation will be on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 9:30 am until 11:00 am with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St. Michael Catholic Church in Biloxi, MS. Entombment will follow at Southern Memorial Park. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.