Jan!
Her Story
With raw disbelief and great sadness, we share that Janet Ann Sillik - our 'Miss Jan, Aunt Jan, Grandma Jan, Mom' - passed away on July 7, 2026, after a brief hospitalization.
Jan was born in Jacksonville, Florida on September 10, 1943, the daughter of Evelyn Florida Davis Jones and Robert Edward Jones. Lifetime resident of Jacksonville, she graduated from Baldwin High School where she was a cheerleader who graduated at 16 and went on to Stetson University in Deland.
Jan was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and continued her worship at Christ Church in Jacksonville. Many beyond Jacksonville will remember Jan as a devoted member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, serving as its President from 2011 to 2013. She enjoyed great food and was a champion at organizing/delegating for large events.
Anyone who knew her will remember her as a rare spirit, with a zeal and passion for family, strong friendships and good conversation. Jan was joy! Light! Flowers! Miss Jan loved deeply and loyally and believed passionately in the enduring love of family. Her friends and family will know that she was devoted to her son Chris and his wife Inna, and she adored her grandchildren. She was a faithful servant of the Lord and devoted to living a life of faith.
Our Jan also had a loving circle of close friends who were valuable support to her throughout her life. Because of her extensive background as copywriter, editor and writer, and as a lover of her trove of inherited stories and customs, she could speak either eloquently or adopt the rhythm and idioms of her past, most especially when retelling some story from her or her family. She made friends easily, making even the newly-met a sudden extended family.
She loved her home and living on the land her father had developed a built a house on. She loved being around her sculptural artifacts from her time with floral design and her stacks of books accumulated over the years.
She was also a collector of family memories and all manner of items that triggered an artistic or memorable inspiration. She was a master of floristry design, an avid reader especially of non-fiction because she burned for knowledge and understanding a full picture. There were so many books in her house, they could have been used for furniture! She was a frequent visitor to the public library and a lover of the spoken story, traveling miles and miles yearly to take in the best storytellers in the country, forever longing for the warmth of a story around a log-burning stove.
She was a huge presence and had a larger-than-life personality, even as she regaled us on the last day of her life with a story she told about the Meyers-Briggs evaluation that had labeled her an “I”: an Introvert. Sher even joked about her “Dollies.” We can’t talk about that here, but ask us sometime.
She is at peace now, resting in the arms of her mom and dad, a host of West Florida relatives, Ain’ts (Aunts), Cuddins (Cousins), and a whole “passel” of Joneses and Davises from tiny Alpha, all the way to Fernandina Beach, (and particularly Amelia Island) Florida.
Jan lives on through her son Chris Dickson, her daughter-in-law Inna Dickson; the radiant smile of her grandchild Amelia, the mischievous humor and spirit in Leo and Bruno Dickson; and in her sister-law Jackie Jones, niece Amity Jones, nephews Adam and Ron Jones (Marie) and great nieces Evelyn and Elaina.
A funeral will be held on August 2, at 2 p.m., Christ Church on 103rd Street on Jacksonville’s Westside. We would welcome you there to celebrate the life of Jan Sillik and share some warm memories and healing.
And in the meantime, if you have memories and photos you’d like to share here, we invite you to do that or email us to include files and give us permission to post. We are hopeful you will be able to help us document her presence in all our lives.
Thank you all!
THANK YOU Christ Church, Garden Club of Jacksonville, family and friends, and so many caring people for a sweet, memorable service and reception. It means so much. To join together in remembrance of my Mom, to hear and share stories, and love. Thank you.
Gallery
Videos
Memory Wall
Flower mums & Hydrangeas so beautiful she couldn’t wait to show it to me the 100th birthday at the home & Garden club.
You will be truly missed .
With Love always your friend Jackson .
Please heal when able and know she is in the presence of our Lord and Savior! Until we all meet again. Have a beautiful life and super duper safe trip home. Continued blessings to you all!!!!!
Love and hugs,
Emery Mills
Catch The Drift ❤️
You played the piano at my wedding, helped me creat beautiful floral arrangements that brightened countless family, school and church events, and were always willing to share your gifts with others. I always knew I could stop by or call and you would support me in any way possible. It was my honor to be your friend and hairdresser. I always enjoyed creating your "pillow hair", making you feel younger and testing you with my sheers. You were always afraid I was taking to much off but thanked me afterwards.
Thank you for the beautiful memories, the laughter, and the friendship. The world is a little less beautiful without you in it, but your legacy of love, faith, and kindness will live on in everyone who was fortunate enough to know you.
Rest peacefully, my dear friend. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered. 💜
I so enjoyed her warm and cheerful spirit. Even in her last years when she endured a great sorrow, she always chose to hope and believe the best of others.
May she rest in peace in the arms of Jesus Christ, the true Master Gardener!
"...to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified" (Isaiah 61:3).
I had the honor of picking up a few food and drink items and prescriptions for her and doing some housework and trying to get her to get rid of items and downsized so I could clean better and would tell her will will just do baby steps so she wouldn't stress .
She loved talking about her family and friends and stories of her life.
She was such a joy to be around .
She will be missed by many.
When I think of her I always smile.
Loving memory
Cindy Hoffman
She was the ultimate true southern lady and so very talented.
We will miss your sweet smile and contributions to the world of flowers!
Keep designing in heaven my friend!
Sam Runyon
We will always be the OG Hampton Inn Girls.
Love you and miss you soooo much.
As an adult, I had the pleasure of hosting her for many holidays as well Chris and Inna when they were in town. We shared so much laughter.
She loved Chris and his family beyond measure! She put so much thought and effort into making their visits extra special!
She was a beautiful, fun, and talented lady who will be missed dearly!
Carissa
Donate
• Christ Church Anglican. She served as a Scripture Reader and in the Floral ministry. It would be a tribute to her to help cover weekly Sunday services floral arrangements.
•. Garden Club of Jacksonville. She served as a Floral Design Judge , Instructor, and in leadership culminating as the State President of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. A tribute to her would be to help support floral designing including her flagship contribution, Fun With Flowers.
•. Jacksonville Public Library. Her Library card was her most valuable card and got the most use! She loved books and stories. A special tribute at her Wesconnett Library would mean so much.
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