Janet Estelle (Boyer) Petro, 84
DEC. 4, 1931 – SEPT. 1, 2016
Known for her love of learning, her dedication to her profession, and her steady focus on family, Janet Estelle (Boyer) Petro, age 84, died peacefully in the company of family on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Saint Joseph Care Center in Louisville. Born in Longswamp Township in Berks County Pennsylvania, on December 4, 1931, to Harry and Helen (Fenstermacher) Boyer, Janet lived and worked in the Canton area most of her life. She was a longtime former member of Little Flower Catholic Church in Middlebranch, then a member of Saint James Catholic Church in Waynesburg. Mrs. Petro worked most recently as a Registered Nurse at Timken Mercy Hospital in Canton, providing direct patient care in labor and delivery for about 20 years. She previously worked in the nursery at Mercy Hospital in Canton, and earlier in Washington, DC, Chicago, and San Diego.
Growing up on a family farm in Eastern Pennsylvania, Janet worked alongside her sisters and parents. At Longswamp Township High School in Berks County, she excelled at math and science, and was valedictorian. Mrs. Petro enrolled at Kutztown High School for her senior year. After graduating in 1949, she moved to Reading Pennsylvania to complete a nursing diploma at Reading Hospital. Janet then earned a Registered Nurse license, and relocated to Washington DC to specialize in psychiatric nursing.
Janet met her future husband, Gerald Leonard Petro, a Navy Hospitalman, while both worked at Saint Elizabeth’s Psychiatric Hospital in Anacostia Virginia. Jerry deployed to the Korean Conflict as a Navy Corpsman attached to the Marines, and Janet moved to Chicago Illinois for two years of post-graduate work in urban pediatrics at Cook County Hospital. They were married on April 24, 1954 at Camp Pendleton in San Diego California. After moving to Canton the couple had eight children, Brett Petro (Reene) of Westerville, Ellen (James) Seiler of Rawson, Annette (Michael) Cryder of North Canton, Martha Petro (Larry Walker) of Carrollton, William (Sarah) Petro of Ottawa Hills, John (Amy) Petro of Waynesburg, Beth Louise Petro of North Canton, and Mary (John) Ross of North Canton. In Canton, Mrs. Petro made good use of varied skills, including fabricating clothes patterns from newspaper, singing harmonies at church, providing first aid to injured neighbors, and teaching children multiple ways to do math problems. In retirement, Janet and Jerry moved to Dellroy, and spent ten years gardening, beekeeping, hosting grandchildren, and holding family parties.
In addition to Jerry, her husband of 54 years, Janet was predeceased by her parents, by beloved brother Willis Boyer, sisters Ann (Randall) Gumpert, Lois (John) Toth, brothers-in-law James (Marlene) Cook, Randall (Ann) Gumpert, daughter-in-law Tamara Shaffer (Brett) Petro, nephew Michael Cook, grandchildren Matthew Petro and Sarah Seiler. Janet is survived by sisters Sue (Larry) Hertzog and Mary (Lew) Christman, sister-in-law Marlene (Nick) Eliades, brother-inlaw John (Lois) Toth, eight children, 24 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Grandchildren include siblings Anthony (Marina) Petro of London England, Brendan Petro of Columbus, siblings Matthew Petro [deceased], Jacob Petro of Cincinnati, and Joshua Petro of San Diego California, siblings Sarah Seiler [deceased], Anne (Ryan Emrick) Seiler of New Orleans Louisiana, and Mara Seiler of Troy, siblings John (Kristen Lash) Buchanan of Carrollton and Mariah Buchanan of Cuyahoga Falls, siblings Madeline (Carl) Steib of Toledo, Grace Petro of Oxford, Lilly Petro, William Petro, Joseph Petro, Samuel Petro, Luis Petro and Ruby Petro of Ottawa Hills, siblings Avery Petro of Athens, Benjamin Petro, Nicholas Petro, and Teresa Petro of Waynesburg, siblings Dominick Quinn and Gianna Novelli of North Canton, and siblings Christina (David Harris) Ross of Brimfield and Rachael Ross of North Canton. Mrs. Petro’s great-grandchildren are Taylor Minton of Brimfield, siblings Estelle and Vincent Emrick of New Orleans Louisiana, and Finley Steib of Toledo.
Commemorate Janet at a Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by the Reverend Father Leo J. Wehrlin, on Friday, September 16 at 11 am - Little Flower Catholic Church, 2040 Diamond Street, Middlebranch Ohio 44721. Casual calling hours one hour before Mass at the church. All family and friends are invited to lunch after Mass in the Little Flower Social Hall. Rather than flowers, consider memorial donations to: Saint Joseph Care Center, 2308 Reno Drive NE, Louisville Ohio 44641, Aultman Hospice Program, 2821 Woodlawn Avenue NW, Canton, Ohio 44708, or Little Flower Catholic Church, 2040 Diamond Street, Middlebranch Ohio 44721. (Reed Funeral Home 330-477-6721)