Janet Joanne Via Sellers, 83, passed away on May 15, 2021 at North River Health Campus. She was the first born child of Mary Painter and Mason Via on July 5, 1937 of Southeastern Ohio. As she got older, she was thrilled that family would have time to come from far and wide to enjoy the fireworks on her birthday eve.
She earned a BS in education at Ohio University and a Master’s in Education at Xavier University. Janet taught high school and college level math. She was a proud lifelong learner, a reader and a traveler, a crafter and a puzzle solver. She was very active in Girl Scouts of America and her churches: Forest Chapel UMC, OH and Blue Grass Church, IN.
Janet was preceded in death by her children’s father, Jim Sellers; beloved siblings, Bonnie Lamey and Wilbur Via; and brother-in-law, John Folk.
She was a devoted mother and grandmother and is survived by daughters, Mary Anne Cowgill (Michael), Joan Esterline (Peter), Rachel Riggs (Mark); son, Matthew Sellers (Jo-Elle); seven grandchildren, Megan Englebrecht (Jon), Jacob Riggs, Lucas Riggs, Katherine Esterline, Henry Cowgill, Daisy Cowgill, Levi Riggs; and two great-grandchildren Max Bingham and James Bingham; sisters, Rita Folk of Riverview, FL and Alice Via of Cave Junction, OR; brother, Toby Via (Natalie) of Sardenia, OH; sister-in-law, Debbie Via of Wellston, OH; and her dear friend Barrie Owen of Cincinnati, OH.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Bluegrass United Methodist Church, 14240 Petersburg Road, officiated by Rev. Doug Heiman, with burial at a later date in McArthur, OH. Friends may visit Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Alexander Funeral Home East Chapel, 2115 Lincoln Avenue, and Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the United Methodist Women’s Legacy Fund.
