Janice Y. Cowen

Janice Y. Cowen, known and loved by many as “Granny,” passed away peacefully February 17, 2025 at Saybrook Landing Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at the age of 89.

She was born on April 22, 1935 in Danville, Ohio and graduated from Danville High School in 1953.  

Janice was an avid reader, and her lifetime and homes were filled with reading and piles of books. She worked for many years at the Loudonville and Danville Public Libraries where she proudly donned the role of “Mother Goose” as she lead story hour for the kids. 

She was a devout Christian with a spicy and feisty side. She could quote the Bible and tell a raunchy joke all in the same conversation. She was a survivor in many aspects of her life but it didn’t stop her from living and loving.

Janice was devoted to helping others and spent much of her time in service to her community. She was a highly active member of the First Baptist Church in Ashtabula, the Eastern Star Lodge and she had been a volunteer for Hospice of the Western Reserve. She was strong willed, a bit defiant, but most of all deeply compassionate. Much to her daughters dismay and genuine concern she offered rides to hitchhikers, opened her home to those that needed one for showers or a night of rest, and fed those with less than her from her own kitchen. Granny helped anyone and everyone, it didn’t matter to her what you looked like or where you came from. 

She is survived by her loving daughters Gayle (Robert) Dawson and Lisa (Rick) Pugliese and step-daughters: Debra (Ted) Schaffer, Cammie (Steve) Workman, and Julie (Bob) Rooks; her grandchildren: Andrew Rettig, Jennie Pugliese (Mitchell), Ralphie (Gillian) Pugliese, Jason Workman, Alyson Baker (Doug), Matthew Rooks (Lakshmi), and Mitch Rooks; and her great-grandchildren: Andrew, Evy, Luigi, Cooper, Laney, Nolan, Arjun and Krishna. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Barry Cowen, her son, Max Graham, her mother, Margaret Dile, her brothers Jack and Don and step-grandson Larry Schaffer. 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at Czup Funeral Home, 1329 Lake Ave. Ashtabula, Ohio, calling hours will be from 1:00-3:00 with her funeral service starting at 3:00.  Burial will take place Thursday, February 21 in Danville, Ohio at Workman Cemetery a 1:00.

Janice's daughters would like to give a special thanks to the loving staff at Saybrook Landing.

Please feel free to make a donation to your favorite library in honor of Janice.

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