Janis Marie (Hunt) Chayka, 65, passed away on May 15, 2024, at her home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is survived by her husband and best friend, Leonard Chayka; her seven children: Julie (Anthony) Auchtung, Kimberly Chayka, Elizabeth (William) Evans, Emily (Michael) Liechty, Brayden Chayka, Kathryn (Wesley) Shappell, and Laura (Joshua) Buesching; and four grandchildren: William, Alexander, Abigail, and Leah. Throughout her life, Janis "adopted" many others into her family, too numerous to count but all deeply loved. She is preceded in death by her beloved parents, William and Muriel Hunt.

Born in 1959 In Merced, CA, Janis was a proud Air Force brat, having lived in three countries and six states during her formative years, along with her three siblings, James Hunt, Cindie Owensby, and Loren Hunt. She ultimately visited all 50 states in her lifetime, proudly achieving a major goal on her bucket list.

Janis majored in elementary education at Liberty University from 1979 – 1981. There, she met Len, the love of her life. They married in 1980 and embarked on a grand adventure together. Len pastored churches in Colorado and New York while Janis ministered beside him. Together, they had two children, adopted five, and fostered over 100 more. In 1991 they were presented with the Chemung County NY Great American Family Award for their outstanding contribution to the community. Janis considered motherhood to be her highest calling and proudest achievement.

Janis nurtured through crochet, sewing and baking. With every birth announcement she quickly started a new baby blanket. Her children and grandchildren have all been recipients of her sewing abilities from infancy into adulthood. Holiday meals were never complete without her angel pie or sour cream pound cake. Janis will be dearly missed but always remembered by her family and friends who loved her.

The family invites you to celebrate Janis's life on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 10:00 am at Headwaters Church Chapel, 2000 N. Wells Street Fort Wayne, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, charitable gifts may be donated to New Mercies Ministries https://app.aplos.com/aws/give/NewMerciesMinistries/. FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services is handling arrangements.