Janys received her B.A. and B.S. in education from Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State Teachers College) in 1955 and her master of art degree in education from Truman in 1958. A retired educator and homemaker, she resides in Toledo, Ohio, with her husband Bill, a physician—whom she met in Kirksville while he was attending medical school. 

While at Truman, Janys was active in Alpha Phi Sigma, band, Cardinal Key, College Players (Drama), International Club, Kappa Delta Pi, and Sigma Sigma Sigma social sorority.  She also wrote for the Index and worked in the campus bookstore. 

In 1955-56, Janys and fellow student Myra Wharton were exchange students at the University of Madrid in Spain. Following her year abroad, she taught in Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Mo., then she returned to Truman to work on her master’s degree in English education, which she received in 1958.  She spent the next year as an instructor of English at Truman. After her marriage, Janys taught at Woodward High School in Toledo, Ohio, and later taught part-time at the University of Toledo.