Obituary of Janis Gillis

Janis Gillis, 83, of Winter Haven, entered peacefully into heaven on Sunday June 18, 2017. She was born January 16, 1934 in Winter Haven to William and Iduma Williamson. She lived a long life full of joy and laughter surrounded by her family and many friends. After graduating Auburndale High School, she attended Florida State University for her Bachelor's Degree. She then obtained her Master's Degree in Education from University of South Florida. She married Chris Gillis in 1966. Janis was a teacher for 46 years, of which 44 were spent at Auburndale Central as a First and Second Grade and Title One teacher. She was highly involved in her church, First Baptist Church of Auburndale, where she led her Sunday school class every week for many years. She had an eventful life, raising her daughter, Suzanne, and being closely involved in the lives of her nine nieces and nephews. She loved spending time with her grandchildren. She remained close to her childhood friends and was always eager to make new ones. True to her educational background, she was deeply invested in lifelong learning- reteaching herself how to play the piano, trying to learn Spanish, and discovering new things about her family through genealogy research. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Suzanne Borkowski, her husband, Chris Gillis, her sister, Dorothy Wherry (Williamson), and her brother, Billy (William) Williamson. She is survived by her son-in-law, Jim Borkowski, and her four grandchildren, William, Caitlin, Megan, and Natalie.