Janelle Strong

Janelle Johnson Strong - a beloved wife, mother and sister - passed away at the age of 51 on Tuesday June 21, 2022. A long-time resident of Bluffdale, Utah, Janelle died while at home with her beloved husband by her side.

Janelle Johnson was born November 6, 1970 in Encino, California, to Albert Blaine Johnson and Gayle Page. Janelle was born the youngest of three children (Jeff and Stephanie) – so she was always the one to get away with almost anything. Janelle idolized her older siblings – and always tried to emulate them. She loved her brother and sister so much – and she always felt a special kinship and closeness to each of them.

Janelle moved around frequently as a child. From Los Angeles, to San Jose, to Park City, Utah, and then to Morgan Hill, California. She went back and forth between Morgan Hill and Park City to attend high school with her Park City friends.  Wherever she lived, Janelle had to find a pool, because she loved to swim. She probably spent more time in the water than out of the water each and every summer either in her family’s pool or swimming on the swim team. Janelle loved the sun and prided herself on how tan she could get each and every summer.

Janelle graduated from Park City High School in 1988. She briefly attended Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California, where she was a member of the swim team, before finishing her schooling at the University of Utah where she was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Sociology on December 18, 1997. Janelle worked very hard to put herself through school and was very proud of her accomplishment.

Soon after her graduation she went to work at Freedom Mortgage for her brother Jeff. She was a mortgage processor and excelled due to her unparalleled organizational skills, attention ti detail, and commitment to deliver top-notch customer service. It was there that she met her future husband. When Jeff offered Janelle a job, his only stipulation was that she not date that Dave Strong guy. Challenge accepted.

Janelle was married to David Walsh Strong on July 24, 1998, at the beautiful Heritage Gardens in Sandy, Utah. She was such a beautifully stunning bride. The newlyweds soon moved out to Bluffdale, and although Janelle was a city girl at heart, she came to love the peace and solace of the South Salt Lake Valley.  After giving birth to Jaclyn Grace Strong on July 3, 2000, Janelle cherished her role as mother and poured her heart and soul into her family.

On December 16, 2000 Janelle was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was baptized by her brother Jeff and confirmed by her father-in-law, David Strong.

Janelle contracted Lyme disease early on in her marriage – and the symptoms gradually worsened over time. In 2001 after an exhaustive search, she was finally diagnosed properly – and was able to receive the requisite treatment. Unfortunately, none of the treatments really seemed to help, so the disease slowly took over her life.

By 2015 Janelle was pretty much confined to her home. She left only for doctor’s appointments or hospital stays. She was in such pain every single day – but always tried to maintain a positive attitude and care for those around her. She lived to be kind and to help her husband and child and whomever else she could lend a supporting text or phone call to.

Janelle is survived by her husband David and her daughter Jaclyn; her brother Jeff and his wife Monet along with their children Braxton, Calvin, Dylan, Hayden, Preston and Etienne; and her sister Stephanie and her husband Terry and their sweet daughter Rylee.

Janelle was preceded in death by her father Bert and her mother Gayle. We take solace in the fact that they are now reunited.

It was Janelle’s wish not to have a funeral service or a viewing, due to the physical ravages of the disease.

However, she didn’t expressly say that she didn’t want a celebration of life. Therefore, we invite all family and friends to come celebrate and remember Janelle at our home on Friday July 1, 2022. 

if there was one thing she would wish us all to take to heart and remember her by it would be this: ALWAYS BE KIND!!

PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE TO CELEBRATE JANELLE'S LIFE:

Where: 957 West March Brown Drive, Bluffdale, UT. 84065

When: Friday July 1st, 2022 between 4:00 and 9:00 p.m.

Attire: Casual. In her day Janelle was the life of the party.  She would want everyone to be comfortable and have a good time.