Jamie Lynn Chrisman's Obituary
Jamie Lynn Chrisman (née Benya), 54, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Lorain.
She was born on September 12, 1971, in Toledo, Ohio, to James and Frances (née Schutt) Benya. Jamie attended Toledo Central Catholic before her family relocated to North Olmsted, where she graduated from North Olmsted High School in 1989. She continued her education at the University of Toledo. While attending college she met her husband, Dale, who was her brother’s college roommate in Michigan.
In 2008, Jamie began her career with Triad Residential Solutions as a Residential Specialist, a role that reflected her deep compassion for others. Over 18 years of dedicated service, she became a passionate advocate for both clients and employees, ultimately serving as Director of Human Resource Management. Her lifelong devotion to individuals with developmental disabilities was deeply personal. Born without the fibula bone in both legs, Jamie faced significant challenges from an early age. She also courageously battled cancer and supported her family through the kidney transplants of two of her sons—selflessly donating a kidney alongside her husband. Jamie was a fighter, a force of nature, and a true inspiration who faced every obstacle with strength and determination. She was fiercely protective of those she loved and never stopped fighting for others.
Jamie had a love for judo and jiu-jitsu, disciplines in which she excelled. She was an avid hockey fan who enjoyed cheering on the Detroit Red Wings, and holding season tickets to the Cleveland Monsters. She was a wonderful cook and loved traveling with her husband, especially to the National Parks, which held a special place in her heart. Above all, her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren, who affectionately called her “Greema.”
She is survived by her beloved husband of 31 years, Dale Chrisman; her daughter, Kayla (Nate) Haywood; her sons, Jacob (finacee, Sam) Joshua, and Matthew Chrisman; her grandchildren, Mackenzie Haywood, Zander Chrisman, and Aubrianna Chrisman; her mother, Frances Benya; her sister, Lisa (Michael) Scully; and her brother, Jeffrey (Wendy) Benya.
The family will receive friends on Friday, April 24, 2026, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, where funeral services will follow at 7:00 p.m. Private inurnment will take place in Michigan at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Jamie’s memory to causes close to her heart: the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute through the unLIMBited Foundation website, the National Kidney Foundation, P.O. Box 40544, Bay Village, OH 44140, or Special Olympics, Attn: Web Gifts, 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, 11th Floor, Washington, DC 20037.
Online condolences may be left for the family at https://www.dovinreberjones.com.
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