South Bend, IN — Janice Marie Conlon, 87, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2026, following a brief illness.

Janice was born on December 12, 1938, in Mishawaka, Indiana, to the late Clyde and Juanita (Trittipo) Eckenberger. She was the sixth of thirteen children. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Richard Conlon; brothers; Bennie Eckenberger, William Eckenberger, Emil Eckenberger, William Neiswonger, and Max Eckenberger; and sisters Virginia Lewinski and Elizabeth Walsh.

Janice was a proud graduate of Mishawaka High School, Class of 1957. She began her working life at Bendix in Mishawaka before enlisting in the United States Navy on March 10, 1959, in Chicago. During her service, she worked as a Hospital Corpsman and later as a Navy Yeoman.

After marrying and welcoming a son, Janice returned to South Bend in 1968, where she held a variety of jobs. One of her most memorable roles was serving as secretary to the University of Notre Dame offensive coaching staff during the Parseghian era from 1968 to 1972. She later returned to the Navy Reserves, serving an additional 11 years as a Yeoman, all while maintaining her civilian career. Janice eventually retired after more than 20 years with the United States Postal Service.

She was an active member of American Legion Post #303 and enjoyed her time with the DiLoreto Club and De Amicis Club. She enjoyed the casinos and donating to the homeless as well as other organizations. She loved Notre Dame football, and in her younger days she was a race car driver.

Janice is survived by her two grandsons, Robert Sean Conlon and Tyler H. Conlon, both of Texas; her brothers John Aydelotte, Thomas Bollinger, Terry Eckenberger, and Dennis Eckenberger; as well as countless nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, friends, and associates who will fondly remember her.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., with funeral services beginning immediately at 1:00 p.m., all at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Osceola, Indiana. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, where Janice will be laid to rest with full United States Navy military honors.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday January 16th at 5:00 PM at The American Legion Post # 303, River Park, 2503 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend IN 46615.

To leave a remembrance of Janice or to offer condolences to her family, please visit https://www.chapelhillmemorial.com/obituaries/