Janet Marie Willoughby's Obituary
Janet Marie Willoughby (nee Heider), age 84, passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2026. She was born and raised in Dayton and has resided in North Ridgeville since 1977 when the Air Force transferred her husband to NASA Cleveland.
Janet was a secretary at Wright-Patterson AFB when she met her husband-to-be. Assigned far and wide across America, she was an exemplary military spouse: exceptionally friendly, self-sufficient and an enthused church volunteer. Eventually, she became deeply involved with St. Clarence Catholic Church in North Olmsted, mentoring children from broken families and being very active in Charity in Action.
She enjoyed water fun - fishing and water skiing at Witmer Lake Indiana when she was young and hanging out with her grandchildren by Lake Erie in Port Clinton. Janet was the people-wise coach of North Ridgeville’s first all-girl soccer teams. She was active in the North Ridgeville Arts Council and enjoyed playing bridge, traveling and birding.
As her nest emptied, she earned a degree from LCCC. Her great empathy was very suitable for her career as a patient advocate for St. John Medical Center and St. Vincent Charity Hospital.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Alan, daughters, Maria (Chris) Hunter of Shaker Hts., Teresa (Donald) Vargo of Westerville, and son, Matthew (Stephanie) Willoughby of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, grandchildren, Jeremy (Nicole), Trevor and Emma Hunter, Audrey, Elise and Eric Vargo, Gracen, Jude and Leighton Willoughby, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis G. and Irma (nee Schumacher) Heider, brothers, Francis and Louis Heider, sisters, Mary Connaughton and Emily Crawford.
Memorial Visitation will be held at the Bogner Life Celebration Center, 7295 Greenlawn Drive, North Ridgeville on Friday, March 13 from 4:00-7:00 PM.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, March 14 at 11:00 AM at St. Clarence Parish, 30106 Lorain Road North Olmsted. Rev. Neil Kookoothe will be the celebrant. A reception will follow at the church.
She will be laid to rest at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Seville.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Clarence Charity in Action, 30106 Lorain Rd., North Olmsted, OH 44070 or the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org
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