Janet Lucas

JANET E. LUCAS (nee Martin), age 87, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2017. Janet was preceded in death by her parents Wayne and Lillian Martin and her brother Allen Martin. Janet is survived by her children Laurie Terrace, Jill (Rick) Ullett, and Lesley Carr (Robert Dodge). Stepchildren, Lynn (Bill) Richardson, and Rick (Patti) Lucas. Grandchildren, Daniel Terrace, Jr., Michelle (Steve) Daum, Christine (Mark) Skrovan, Jeffrey (Jody) Terrace, Jackie (Tom), McCloskey, Megan Messer, Kelly Messer, Jessie Ullett, James Ullett, Melanie (Ron) Pertz, Douglas Richardson, and Bill Richardson, and many great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Judy Martin. Janet was a graduate of Shaw High School. She had many cherished friends from Shaw High School and Faith Church in Mentor. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Celebration of Life Service Saturday, January 7, 2016 at 11 AM at THE FUNERAL HOME. Burial following at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Janet at THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATIONS CENTER OF CHESTERLAND 12811 CHILLICOTHE ROAD (Rt. 306, just south of Mayfield Rd.) FRIDAY 2-4 and 5-7 PM.

My Mom – Janet Lucas

When I think of my mother’s most significant traits, first thing that comes to mind is her caring heart.  Mom was always a thoughtful loving person to her friends and her family.  She was very compassionate and empathetic.  She enjoyed her church, Faith Community in Mentor, and her friends in the Live Wires group. She had many longtime friends including her beloved “Club” members that she has associated with since her time at Shaw High.  She kept in contact with many friends she knew from her childhood home on Ardenall Ave. in East Cleveland where she grew up. Mom coordinated many High School reunions as well as family reunions.

Her caring heart wasn’t limited to the human population. Mom always adored cats.  She had many furry friends during her lifetime.  She even rescued a few animals including Binny the three legged cat who lived to a very ripe age. Scooter was her last kitty and held a special place in her heart.

Tenacity and resilience were also qualities that Mom exemplified during her life.  She faced a lot of adversity and fought through with all she had.  Over the past several years, she had declined physically.  However, she made the most of her situation.  She looked to what she enjoyed in life and concentrated on those things.  Mom was an avid reader. She was able to find enjoyment in life through books, favorite TV shows, watching golf (no – she never played), and especially visits from her family and friends. Mom really enjoyed Ohio State Football and rarely missed a game.  Mom was a former Buckeye herself and enjoyed her years at Ohio State.

Mom had a wonderfully creative spirit.  She was a talented artist and has painted many lovely works of art that her family members have hanging in their homes.  She enjoyed her art class she took for years at a community center.  She is also wrote poetry and composed several song parodies that have brought laughter to many.  Mom really had an eye for photography and has taken a myriad of beautiful photographs.  She enjoyed sharing them with her family, friends, and other willing (or unwilling) subjects. Her eye for art lead her to collect many beautiful antiques.  She had many good times collecting with friends.

Mom thoroughly enjoyed music.  She was raised in a home filled with music as her mother was a piano teacher and her father, a barber by trade, was also a soloist in church.   She was a big fan of female Jazz greats such as Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Diana Krall.  Her CD collection included diverse artists from the Eagles to Eric Clapton, James Taylor and Billy Joel to BB King and Nat King Cole.  Mom enjoyed music competition shows even up to the last few weeks of her life.  She would be moved to tears by a wonderful performance on The Voice.

In closing on a lighter note, a memorial for Mom would not be complete without mentioning her sense of humor.  Mom prided herself in her quick wit and her ability to make people laugh.  Even when the circumstance wasn’t the funniest, she would often find something funny to say or do. In the hospital or at nursing facilities, she often caught the unsuspecting worker off guard with her humor.

Nurse:  I am here to draw your blood, Janet.

Mom:  You might want to start with a red crayon.

Nurse:  what?  What did she say?

Daughter:  She was joking and said you should  ”draw” her blood with a crayon.  Get it?

Nurse:  Laughter.

There are many, many, MANY more where that came from.  Something would strike her funny and she would start laughing and turn several shades of red. One family favorite was her retelling of her most embarrassing moment.  She couldn’t get through it without laughing hysterically.

We are so sad to let our Janet go.  However her spirit lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  I see her caring heart, tenacity, creativity, intelligence, sense of humor, music, love of books, and laughter carried on for generations to come.

Peace to you – Mom!