Lauren "Nicki" Janisko, 32, of Harwood

»Information from the George P. Kalas Funeral Home website.

Lauren “Nicki” Janisko of Harwood, MD, a life-time resident of Anne Arundel County, passed away on August 7, 2015. Born on April 13, 1983, in Cherry Point, NC, to Robert Janisko and Sherrie Wilkinson, Nicki was a graduate of Southern High School where she excelled at lacrosse.

After high school she attended Anne Arundel Community College, where she received her associate’s degree. Nicki went on to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked at Genesis Spa Creek in Annapolis. She was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in West River.

As a child her family can still picture Nicki with 80’s style big hair and colorful polka-dot pants and neon shirts, dancing through the house to the Escape Club’s “Wild Wild West” or the Beach Boys “Kokomo.” At 32 years of age Nicki never lost that young, wild, fun loving free spirit that made Nicki, Nicki, as she could be seen in one of her colorful sundresses and flip flops still dancing through the house or singing in the car belting out a Janis Joplin song. Her spirit lives on in the person she loved more than life, her daughter, Emma.

Nicki was preceded in death by her grandfather, Albert Janisko.

In addition to her parents, Nicki is survived by her daughter, Emma Sherman of Harwood; five brothers, Matthew Janisko of Kent Island, Eric and Benjamin Janisko of Hagerstown, Dennis Wilkinson, Jr. of Edgewater, and Christopher Wilkinson of Chesapeake Beach; two sisters, Mary Kate Janisko of Harwood and Lacey Wilkinson of Annapolis; and three grandparents, Mary Sharp of Harwood, Billie Ford of Coudersport, PA and Lucille Janisko of Johnston, PA.

Friends are invited to celebrate Nicki’s life from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 101 Owensville Road in West River. Interment will be at Lakemont Memorial Gardens.

At the request of Nicki’s daughter, Emma, attendees are encouraged to wear bright colors in honor of Nicki’s vibrant spirit.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Emma Sherman’s Education Fund.