Janice Smith Cozine, at the age of 60 years old, went to be with the Lord on the night of September 11, 2019 after a courageous battle with cancer, at her home in Keithville, LA surrounded by "her boys" which is what she lovingly called her husband and two sons. Her memorial service will be held on October 5, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Rose-Neath Southside Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport, LA 71118.
Janice was born November 14, 1958 in Houston, TX. After moving to Shreveport and graduating from Southwood High School, she decided to attend Northwestern School of Nursing. She graduated from nursing school at the young age of 19 years old and went on to serve as an orthopedics nurse for almost 40 years. Along her journey, she married her loving husband Lee Cozine on November 14, 1987, gave birth to their first son Zac on December 8, 1989, and then to their second son Bryce on March 15, 1995. To her sweet boys she was known as J-Bear or Mama Bear. Janice was known for her unwavering selflessness, whether it was saving lives as a nurse, taking care of "her boys" and friends, or helping someone she had never met before. She woke up every day making sure she put others first, which was evident through her actions, words, and years of service. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing softball and meeting the girls for tennis.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Walter William Smith and Margaret Kathryn Stich Smith Jennings and stepfather Wayne Jennings; her grandparents, George L. and Myrtle Stich; mother-in-law, Geneva Brooks; and father-in-law, Ellis Lee Cozine.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Lee Cozine, and her sons, Zac and Bryce Cozine, along with Zac's fiancé, Jessie Boswell.
Janice's family also includes her sisters and brothers-in-law, Carole and Larry Cunningham, Margaret and Charles Smith; her nieces and nephews, Valerie and Kevin Gamble, Charlene Smith, Chris and Lisa Smith; and sisters-in-law, Neva Cozine, Gwen Bailey, and Joyce Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shreveport Bossier Animal Rescue or Robinson\'s Rescue to honor Janice's love of animals.
The family would like to give a special thanks to all those who loved and cared for Janice and for the outpouring of love towards her family.