Janice Coleman

Janice (Lovely) Coleman was born on July 23, 1941, to the late Ruben and Lula (Brewer) Lovely of Vancleve, Ky. She passed peacefully at home on April 14, 2023.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Paul Edward Coleman, 1 daughter Paula Coleman, 1 brother Ray Lovely, 2 sisters Eunice Lovely, and Eula (Lovely) Taulbee. She is survived by 2 daughters; Alicia (Tom) Burchwell and Teresa (Chris) Spaulding, 5 grandchildren; Sandra (Kaitlin) McGarry, Cody Burchwell, Shelby (Stephen) Palazzo, Brandon Hilles, and Nathan Hilles, 6 great grandchildren; Alexa Palazzo, Aleah Palazzo, Mariana McGarry, Stephen Palazzo, Delilah McGarry, and Solomon Palazzo, 1 brother; Sanford Lovely, 8 sister in laws; Fay Coleman, Betty Jean, Debbie, Karen, Maxie, Shirley, Ova, and Ruby, countless nieces, nephews, family, and friends. Special mention of Trimble and Charlene Stanley, Robbie and Joyce Worrix, and Sunny Hardy.

Mom was the baby of 5 children. She often asked her brother Ray to “bring me back some kits AB” when he went to the store. She grew up on a working farm. Her job was to feed the chickens and gather eggs. She came to Columbus in 1960 living with her brother Ray and his wife, Bea. Uncle Ray tried to teach her to drive but said he would never do it again when she rolled up over a curb. Little did they know she would later teach a sister in law to drive.

Mom worked at Swan Cleaners for 5 1/2 yrs. Her friend Betty introduced her to Dad one night. They married in 1962 and raised 3 girls. Not many know this, but while working at Swans, Mom made a commercial that aired on T.V. She made friends there with the Toolins, a couple who didn’t have children, so they “adopted” our family. Mom also babysat for family and neighborhood kids for years. Later she worked as a merchandiser at Schottensteins for 25 yrs.

In 1972 she thought baby #4 was on the way but it turned out to be a cancerous tumor. This was a hard time. She said she wasn’t going to die and have another woman get her man and raise her girls! She was a 49 yr cancer survivor. She relied on her family and friends for rides, dinners, prayers, talks, and taking care of us and our family. She loved you all for that and never forgot it. Mom was a woman of faith and courage knowing the Lord would take care of her. Even to her very last breath she was still taking care of us. She loved us “so good” and believed if you did the right thing then everything would be ok. She always put herself last and thought of others first. She could always be found helping someone. Whether it was Dad with reunions or family and friends with whatever they needed.

Mom was our biggest cheerleader who gave great advice and taught us to trust in the Lord. She later passed this same wisdom on to her grandchildren. She loved playing board games, dice, and dominoes. She also liked shopping, eating out, traveling, and reading. She could be a jokester. When you least expected it, she would say something funny that would crack you up. She loved to laugh just like her mom. She could be a little ornery too. Mom and one of her cousins may or may not have tied a boy to post at school one day.

Mom enjoyed her 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. They made her smile. As each one came along her heart grew bigger. She especially loved kissing those piggies even if they might be a little dirty. She didn’t care. They were all special in her eyes and she loved them the same.

Mom loved the Lord, church, and her family. Mom was a member of the Columbus Primitive Baptist Church for 32 years. She loved to sing. She thought she had an awful voice, but we told her many times she sang like an angel. She has many adopted children like our older sister Charlene! She has a special friend, Sunny, who meant so much to her and is her sister in Christ. Her sister in laws were like sisters to her. You were all her rocks during her life. She had a special son that has gone on before her. She loves her son in laws. She loved teasing Chris and loved ringing her bell for Tom when she was ready for her movie at 8 o’clock and a snack. She was teased by all for her Kentucky twang, especially the way she said mackerway and zink.

Mom and Dad both truly believed “Having a place to go is home, having someone to love is a family, and having both is a true blessing”. Jan lived a full life with many friends, touching each of them in a different way. She was blessed with a wonderful family, but really it was our blessing. We will miss her one liners, laughter, smile, memories, and the way she loved us all. She knew there would be tears today but said, “Please don’t cry for me because I am ok”. She wanted today to be a celebration of her life.

Mom, you is good, you is kind, you is smart, and you is beautiful. She was loved by her family and friends and leaves very big shoes to fill.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at Schoedinger Northeast, 1051 E. Johnstown Rd., Gahanna, Ohio, 43230 where Funeral Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday. Interment will follow at Mifflin Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to ovarian cancer research at The James, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. (https://cancer.osu.edu/for-donors-and-volunteers/how-to-donate)

Visit www.schoedinger.com to share a special memory or extend condolences.