Janell "Lisa" (Mugica) Kirila

Janell “Lisa” Kirila, 88 of Cheboygan passed away peacefully on July 6, 2025. Janell was born on March 3, 1937 in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, the daughter of Manolo Mugica and Maria Theresa Fernadez Ramierez. Janell lived in Cuba until she left at age 25 to start a new life in America. She made her way up from Florida to Chicago, IL, where she lived with family before eventually moving to Detroit, MI. In 1982 she married John Kirila at St. Mary’s Romanian Byzantine Catholic Church in Dearborn, MI. They shared over 43 years together.

Janell was a woman of many talents; She was an incredible cook and professional seamstress. She also was a licensed beautician, owning her own hair salons both in Cuba and in America at different points in her life. She also had a knack for playing piano, even winning a competition in Cuba while she still resided there. Janell was previously a member of St. Mary’s Romanian Byzantine Catholic Church in Dearborn.

                Janell is survived by her husband John Kirila, brother-in-law Virgil Kirila, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Raul Mugica and Emilio “Bebo” Mugica.

                Services for Janell will take place at the Nordman Christian Funeral Home in Cheboygan. Evening visitation will be held on Thursday, July 10 from 5-8pm with a funeral the following day, Friday, July 11 at 1pm, visitation starting at noon. 

                In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution in memory of Janell should consider the Alzheimer’s Association or the Cheboygan County Humane Society.

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