Janice Gay De Groot

Janice Gay De Groot, 72, of Nampa, Idaho died peacefully at home on August 30, 2026, surrounded by her loving family (after a recent decline following an almost nine-year battle with cancer.) A visitation and viewing will be held Sunday evening, September 6, 2026, from 7-8 pm, at Nampa Funeral Home, 415 12th Ave S, Nampa.  A Funeral Service to honor her life will be held at 11 AM on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the Christ Reformed Church, 12693 W Orchard Ave. in Nampa. A private burial will precede the service. Services are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave. S. in Nampa.

Janice was born on March 20, 1954, in Long Beach, CA to Herman and Rheta Haringa. She was the oldest of seven children where they grew up on a dairy farm in Chino, CA. As the oldest, Janice acted as lead babysitter and role model to her siblings. She tried her best to make sure all their chores were done and to keep her siblings (mostly her four brothers) out of trouble. Janice attended Ontario Christian schools and graduated in 1972. After graduating, Janice took some college classes and worked various jobs including three years at Salem Christian homes. There, she developed a love for serving those with disabilities and often shared fondly of her time working there.

In the spring of 1976, she began dating Chuck De Groot after meeting at a young adults gathering hosted by the local CRC churches. Shortly after, they became engaged and got married on October 22 of the same year. They were married in the First Chino Christian Reformed Church. After marriage, they attended Ontario Christian Reformed Church and became involved with their fellowship groups where they developed lifelong friendships with several couples.

Chuck and Janice were blessed with four children over the next eight years. Ernest Harmen in 1977, Thomas Charles in 1979, Colleen Elizabeth in 1982 and Jesse David in 1984. Janice faithfully served as a homemaker, caring for their four children, while Chuck managed the dairy. As a family, they enjoyed camping trips visiting national parks in the Western USA, camping at San Clemente State Beach and family gatherings for various birthdays and holidays.

In 1991, Chuck and Janice moved the family and dairy farm to Central WA where they quickly became involved in the Zillah CRC church and once again formed lifelong friendships. Janice worked as a teacher’s aide at Sunnyside Christian schools as well as a secretary at an optometrist’s office. More than anything, she enjoyed cheering on her children at sporting events such as soccer, basketball, softball and volleyball games.

As their children grew older, Chuck and Janice once again packed up the farm and moved to the Treasure Valley of Idaho in 2000. They joined Cloverdale URC and later, Christ URC in Nampa where Janice enjoyed attending Bible studies and fellowshipping with the ladies of the church. Janice continued to find various jobs to occupy her time and even joined her daughter, Colleen, in helping at a summer program for children with disabilities. She also looked forward to her time volunteering (and finding treasures of her own) at the LOVE INC thrift store on Thursdays. When Chuck officially retired from working on the dairy farm, they enjoyed pulling their fifth wheel on long road trips, river boat cruises, visiting National Parks, planning Haringa family reunions, and collecting Dutch trinkets (tulips, klompen and delft). A once-in-a-lifetime Reformation tour of Europe with friends from their Southern California days was another highlight of her life. Furthermore, Janice fully embraced and loved her role as Beppe to her eight grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time reading books to them, swimming with them, knitting for them, attending their sporting events and carefully picking out gifts for each grandchild. Janice always looked forward to a simple barbecue or gathering when all of her children and grandchildren were together. Janice loved to host friends and family from near and far.

Janice is survived by her husband, Chuck, and children Ernest (Mary-Mac), Tom, Colleen (Ryan) and Jesse (Liberty) as well as eight grandchildren, Isaiah, Abram, Thaddeus, Sophie, Oliver, Marabel, Gabriel and Harmen. She is also survived by her mother, Rheta Haringa and her six siblings, Gene, Bruce, Bob, Ron, Helene and Sharla and their spouses. She was preceded in death by her father, Herman Haringa, and two beloved nephews, Phil and Karson.

Above all, Janice was a faithful servant of God and valued the Lord’s Day by regularly attending morning and evening services (she especially loved studying the Heidelberg catechism). When she was unable to attend her own church service in person, she regularly tuned into the streamed church services of Emmaus Road Reformed Church (MN) where her son-in-law pastors. Janice had a quiet strength and valued quality time with her family and friends. When she was first diagnosed with cancer and subsequently, a second time, she never complained and faced this trial with strength and perseverance. She will be greatly missed, but we are comforted that Janice belonged, body and soul, to her faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, in life and now, in death. Soli Deo Gloria!