CHELSEA -- Janet Avis Hall, 65, of Chelsea, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 15, 2003, after a long battle with kidney disease. She was born in Oakland on Feb. 1, 1938, the 14th child of a large family of 16 siblings born to James and Cora (Bickford) Knowles. Janet was a homemaker for most of her life and loved everyone. She had been grandma and/or mom to so many people who were above and beyond her own family, and has touched so many peoples' hearts with her kindness and her unconditional love. She enjoyed, among many other hobbies, playing beano and collecting hummingbirds, but most of all she loved spending time with her family. Janet was predeceased by two sons, Edwin and Merton Hall; several brothers and sisters; and a grandson, Christopher Worthing. She is survived by her husband, Edwin Hall of Chelsea; four sons, William McLaughlin of Greensboro, N.C., Kenneth McLaughlin and Jason Hall, both of Gardiner, and Douglas Hall of Rome; five daughters, Lela Morgan of Augusta, Lois McLaughlin of Gardiner, Cookie Bowness of Augusta, Jennifer Bonsant and her husband, Perry, of Vassalboro, and Christine Richards of Strong; three brothers, Leroy Knowles of Tecumseh, Mich., Roger Knowles of Coventry, Conn., and Spike Colson of Augusta; a sister, Eleanor Devoe of Coventry; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta, with the Rev. Lawrence Wiles from the Belgrade Bible Church officiating. Burial will be held in the spring at North Vienna Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet's memory may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Maine, P.O. Box 1134, Portland 04104-1134. www.khrfuneralhomes.com