Janice A. Lyons' Obituary
Janice Lyons Obituary
Janice “Jan” Lyons (nee Carignan), 83, of North Ridgeville, passed away peacefully surrounded by family April 13, 2026 following a long illness. She was born May 22, 1942 in Providence, Rhode Island. She was a 1960 graduate of Warwick Veterans High School where she excelled academically and graduated from The University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor’s Degree in English.
Jan found the church early in life and it served as her guiding force. She was a devout Christian and spent her life in the service of others. She was a devoted member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church congregation for more than 40 years. She found strength through her faith and was simply the epitome of a good person.
Jan met the love or her life James “Jim” in high school. He was the popular jock and she was the smart girl. They fell in love, married soon after high school and started their family. Their 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren were the pride of her life.
Jan was a tireless worker and instilled that work ethic in her children. She balanced her career and taking care of her family making it look effortless. There was always a hot meal on the table and spaghetti sauce and chicken salad in the refrigerator.
Her children’s friends were always welcome in her home and many an Elyria High football player enjoyed a spaghetti dinner before a game. She never knew which of her children’s friends might be sleeping on the living room couch on a weekend morning but they were always offered breakfast before going home.
Jan spent her career teaching in the Elyria City Schools where she had a passion for helping kids learn to read. She retired from teaching in 2003 then served as a part time instructional coach for new teachers in the Elyria City School district until her second retirement in 2005.
Jan and Jim purchased their home on Prudence Island in 1999 and traveled back and forth frequently during the years prior to retirement. The house was named the Hookshot Hotel, which was a reference to an old Lyons family saying. Once retired they spent 9 months of the year on the Island. They had many wonderful friends and enjoyed the “Island Life”.
Jan enjoyed entertaining her many friends and family members when they came to the Island to visit. Her grandchildren have fond memories of playing Baha in the evenings after a long day of swimming, jumping off the dock at Sandy Point, quahogging, fishing, and looking for sea glass on the shores of Narragansett Bay. She longed to go back one more time before her passing because it was their home and she loved it but more importantly she loved the great people that lived there.
At the end, she cherished the many friends and family that took time to visit with her. She was disappointed that she was missing important events such as family weddings and large family gatherings but felt lucky to be alive and that so many people took time to visit with her. We always told her she was just getting back what she had put into the world.
Jan is survived by children; Jill (Bob) Hanna, Jim (Chrissy) Lyons, Jeff (Colleen) Lyons, and Jon (Christy) Lyons; grandchildren, Brett, Sarah (Bryan), Jake (Lexi), Dylan (Hannah), Lily, Jessie, Sylvia, Jimmy, Joey, Jonny and Casey; great grandchildren, Ryley and Ava and a niece, Lori (Dave) Strycharz.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years James; parents, Lloyd and Mary Carignan; stepmother, Virginia Carignan; brother Lloyd “Butch” Carignan, and sisters, Margaret and Anne Slattery.
Friends will be received Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 4:00 pm until the time of a 6:00 pm service at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 360 Princeton Avenue, Elyria with Pastor Tim Scholl officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Shriner’s Hospital for children.
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