Janina E. Harwardt

Janina E. Harwardt

July 19, 1937 – March 13, 2024

Janina Elze (Jagutis) Harwardt, age 86 of Monroe, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 under family & hospice care.

Born July 19, 1937 in Vilnius, Lithuania. She was the daughter of the late Martin and Greta (Kaitinis) Jagutis. Janina and family came over from Lithuania in 1952 to the Monroe area. Later on, she moved to Chicago for many years before returning back to the area in the 1990’s. 

Janina was extremely hard working. She raised her two kids on her own without any help from her Ex-husband. Later on in life as she got older, she became a homebody. Over the later years, her son Alexander managed all her affairs and oversaw and managed her home care from California.

Despite having a hard life, she was an incredibly wonderful person to be around. Janina was a loving person to everyone she met. She will be deeply missed and cherished in the hearts of her loved ones. 

Beloved mother to her son Alexander Harwardt who resides in West Hollywood, California and daughter Andrea and husband Beau Valentine who reside in Mokena, Illinois and loving grandmother to Tessa, Logan, and Hunter Valentine. Dear sister of Milda and husband Ronald Strimbel (deceased) of Monroe, brother John and wife Mary Jagutis of North Carolina, and sister Ruth and husband Arthur Noetzel of Chicago. 

In addition to her parents, Janina was preceded in death by sister: Erna and her husband Ernie Grebs; and another infant sister named: Milda Jagutis.  

In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place, with no services at this time. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.ruppfuneralhomeinc.com