Janet Thom

Janet L. Thom, beloved mother of three and grandmother of ten, passed away on September 27, 2022, in Mason, Ohio, at the age of 78. Janet was born on August 17, 1944, in Lima, Ohio, the eldest child of Robert and Betty Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Thom, and her brother Dennis Smith. She is survived by her daughters Natalie (K.C.) Schneider, Rachel (Benjamin) Helwig, and Christine (Adam) Stier, along with the grandchildren she doted on: Kate, Annelise, Elliot, Samuel, Lydia, Theodore, Violet, Silas, Willa, and August. She is additionally survived by her loving siblings Jerry (Patti) Smith and Nancy (Bernard) Dunkel, sisters-in-law Lisa Smith, Ruth (Richard) Hirai, and Mae Chang, and a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.

As a military spouse, Janet resided in many different places over the course of her life, including Germany, Florida, Utah, and Hawaii, but ‘home’ for her was Beavercreek, Ohio, where she lived for thirty-five years. Janet was a longtime employee of St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, but spent the last two decades enjoying volunteer work at Dayton Art Institute, Wright-Patterson AFB pharmacy, Dayton Public Radio, and St. Paul’s Food Distribution Center, among other institutions. Particularly close to her heart was Aley United Methodist Church, of which she was a faithful and active member for over thirty years, and through which she participated in the ministry of United Women in Faith. She was a woman of quiet strength and boundless generosity, focused on serving others.

Janet had an easy laugh and a calm disposition. Her natural curiosity led her to take continuing education classes through the University of Dayton. Her creativity and skill with the arts of sewing and knitting meant she always had a project in the works: a baby blanket for each grandchild, doll clothes, a last-minute Halloween costume. She loved books, travel, classical music, and HGTV, but most of all she loved hosting holidays and other family gatherings. Her powers in the kitchen were legendary, every meal planned and prepped far in advance, every bite baked with love. To her grandkids, “Grandma” was synonymous with warmth, safety, and a seemingly never-ending stream of pancakes hot off the griddle. Her memory will forever be a blessing.

A visitation will be held at 10am on Monday, October 10, at Aley United Methodist Church in Beavercreek, with a funeral service to follow at 11. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Janet by donating to Compassion International, an organization she joyfully supported.