Following a five-year ordeal with cancer, Janis Foligno, wife of Wolves’ head coach and general manager Mike Foligno, passed away on Monday evening.
Janis, 47, was born and raised in Sudbury, where she met Mike, her high school sweetheart and husband of 27 years. Together, they raised four children — Cara, Lisa, Nicholas and Marcus — “(all of whom) Janis held as her proudest accomplishments,” her obituary stated. “As a mother she taught her children to be strong in faith, loving, respectful, and always appreciative of the close bond they share.”Hockey was a prominent fixture in Janis’ life, with Mike spending 15 years in the NHL, and Nicholas and Marcus following in their father’s footsteps.
“She was and always will be her children’s biggest fan. Janis was a regular at the Sudbury Wolves games and in usual attendance for Ottawa Senator games, (watching the games) on television when she couldn’t be there in person,” the obituary stated.“She was a quiet force behind her family, never wanting the limelight, but was their pillar of strength.”
Janis also volunteered her services for many charities, including Meals on Wheels and fundraising for cancer.“Janis was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt and friend,” a release from the Sudbury Wolves stated. “The Sudbury Wolves would like to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to Mike Foligno and his family.
Janis Foligno will be missed by everyone who knew her.”
A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 30, at the Jackson and Barnard Funeral Chapel, at 233 Larch St., from 2-9 p.m., with prayers at 3 p.m. The funeral will be held Friday, July 31 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Hope, at 591 Brennan Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcome to the Janis Foligno Trust Fund. Interment will be in the Civic Memorial Cemetery in Sudbury.
