Gernith was born on September 5, 1918, tiny enough she could sleep in a shoe box. As a young child (6) she developed a form of scarlet fever which caused blindness for 3 years and lost her ability to hear for a lifetime. Because of the fevers which caused damage to the cornea she had corneal transplants in 1987.

This never held her back for long. She graduated from the Flint school for the Deaf and began work at the Mayes Level factory for 17 years before the factory moved to Tennessee.

Gernith met and married John J. Janos Jr. on May 14, 1949. They eventually purchased the Port Austin Laundromat which was very busy back then with the US Air Force base active and all the local and tourist business. John also had a printing business on the side, a trade he learned after attending the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania school for the deaf.

Her husband, John, died in 1980 and Gernith continued to run the laundry until she retired in 1988 when she moved into the downtown area of Port Austin.  For years Gernith volunteered at the Stock Pot restaurant wrapping silverware into a napkin. But mainly this kept her in touch with her growing world of friends.

Gernith was preceded in death by her husband, John, her parents, Thomas Henry and Florence Mae (Upthegrove) Minnick, siblings; Leone Todd, Francis Clayton, William, Henry, and Roy Thomas  and nephew, Michael Todd. Surviving family are many nephews and nieces; Thomas and Kris Minnick, Carol Lee, Michele and Duane Braidwood, John and Kim Todd, Patrick and Rose Todd and many great nephews and great nieces.  The family is grateful to Samantha Morris and her family for the many years of love and caring.

Gernith lived in her own home until she was 103 when in 2021 she moved into the Huron County Medical Care Facility in Bad Axe.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Port Austin Township Library or the Port Austin History Center.

Funeral Wednesday, August 24, at 11 AM St Michael's Catholic Church, Port Austin.                               Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation Tuesday, August 23, 4-8 PM at Knoblock Funeral Home, Kinde and visitation at the church on Wednesday from 10 AM until Mass at 11 AM.