Janine Riley

Janine Lee (Dawson) Riley passed away at age 65 on Monday, June 14, 2021, surrounded by loved ones, from cancer of the lymph nodes. Jan was born June 12, 1956, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Ramona Lee Dawson and James Lewis Dawson, the sixth of their twelve children. She grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and graduated from Grand Rapids Union High School in 1975. She married and had one daughter, Amy Kay (Riley) Hekman. Jan was her most authentic self as a mother; she embodied selflessness and love and passed her capacity for that love to her daughter. After her divorce, Jan moved to Belmont, Michigan and met her longtime partner, Jim Ausema. Jan and Jim never married but shared a full life for over 20 years. They were surrounded by children and grandchildren and never missed an opportunity to enthusiastically tell others about the lives of their loved ones. Jan and Jim loved to work on crafts together; Jim doing the cutting and sanding while Jan embraced her artistic side through painting and decorating. Jan and Jim pursued higher education together at Grand Rapids Community College, where Jan graduated with a degree in Gerontology in 2015. Jan was loved by all in her wide network of friends and family, and her presence constantly exuded warmth and kindness. Her pride and joy were her grandchildren, Dighton, Caleb, Asa, and Bowie who knew her affectionately as “Nanny”. She was often seen at sporting events cheering the boys on with gusto. She loved to craft, often hosting her friends and family at crafting get-togethers. Around the holidays, Jan not only set-up and planned the Dawson family Christmas party; she also always arrived with extra gifts in tow to make sure everyone could participate in the gift exchange. No matter how chaotic the world around her, friends and family knew her as a beacon of loving kindness and generosity. Jan is survived by her partner, Jim Ausema; daughter, Amy Kay (Riley) Hekman; and grandchildren, Dighton Maxwell Hekman, Caleb Night (Mira) Hekman, Asa Vail Hekman, and Bowie Imagine Graff. She leaves sisters Toni (Tom) Plaisier, Candace (James) Van Valkenburg, Debra (Del) Kovar, and Missy Hodyna; and brothers Scott Dawson, Jimmie (Susan) Dawson, William (Andrea) Dawson, Patrick (Elva) Dawson. Jan loved all her nieces and nephews but she was a special aunt to Angela Hodyna and Glenna Bunn and a loving presence in Jim’s family, sons James Edward (Sarah) Ausema II and Christopher (Kimberly) Ausema; grandchildren Hayden Bulson, Abigail Ausema, McKayla Wingate, Adam Ausema and Corbin Ausema. Jan was predeceased by her parents Ramona and James Dawson as well as her brothers Timothy Dawson, Marc Dawson, and Jack Dawson. If Jan were here to speak to us she would remind each of us to be patient with each other, say something kind to one another every day, and to always cherish our loved ones. Please join friends and family on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 for a visitation from 5-6 pm and a memorial from 6-8 pm at the Northern Estates Clubhouse, 1569 Beaver Creek Drive NE Belmont, MI 49306. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of Grand Rapids Parks (www.friendsofgrparks.org).