Janis B Avery

Janis B. Avery age 92, of Chatham, OH, left for Heaven on January 23, 2024 to enjoy a much anticipated reunion with her husband, parents, sister, brother, daughter-in-law, and grandsons and to finally see Jesus face to face.

She was born on November 23, 1931 in Oberlin, Ohio to the late Robert and Irene Balmer. Growing up in Cleveland, OH, Jan graduated from John Hay High School then attended Bob Jones University from 1950-52. Jan married Kenneth Avery on September 7, 1952. They lived in Hinckley, OH for many years before moving to Chatham in 1977. They were married for 67 years until Ken's death in April 2019.

Through the years, Jan volunteered at Hinckley Ridge Baptist Church for the Ladies Aid, Vacation Bible School, and also sang in the church choir. She volunteered for PTA at Hinckley Elementary School and was later active in the Resurrection Church home church groups.

Jan loved being in the kitchen cooking and baking for family and friends. She had a great gift of hospitality. She was especially famous for sharing her ginger bread men cookies and spiced tea with others when selling Christmas trees on the family tree farm, as well as making the best sticky buns that the family has ever tasted. And she was always willing to bake another fresh blackberry pie to give to the neighbors.

But of all the things Jan did in her life, she would list her greatest achievement as raising her 5 wonderful sons. She will be greatly missed by each of them.

Jan leaves behind her sons Mark of Medina, OH; Brian of Lone Pine, CA; Kurt (Aimee) of Centerville, OH; Steve (Wendy) of Canfield, OH; and Matt (Mary) of Stow, OH; grandchildren Erin Kapsar, Jordan (Abby) Avery, Alison (Freddie) Revolorio, Tyler (Michelle) Lorn, Travis (Libby) Avery, Josh (Carissa) Avery, Alisha (Jay) Brownlee, Luke (Helen) Avery, Austin Avery, Jonny (Hannah) Avery, Sarah Avery and Clayton Avery; 24 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, Janis was preceded in death by her sister, Joan; her brother, Kendall, daughter-in-law, Valerie; and grandsons, Josh Kapsar and Nicholas Avery.

Friends may call Monday January 29 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home-Hillcrest Chapel, Seville. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home (and livestreamed at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com/obituaries/Janis-Avery) with her grandson Pastor Joshua Avery officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate or to 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.