Janet Oursler Pappas

Janet Oursler Pappas, 86, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Nov. 29, 2022 after a brief battle with lung cancer.
Just a girl from Pikesville, Maryland, Janet met the love of her life, John, while working as his secretary at Rosewood State Hospital just outside of Baltimore. John was a dashing young doctor from Greece who charmed this small-town girl and won her heart and was beloved by her family.

Shortly after their marriage in 1962, John whisked Janet away to Ohio with their young daughter, Susan, to start what would become a flourishing pediatric practice in Wadsworth and Akron, Ohio. Very much a people person, Janet adapted to being away from her family by making many friendships that would bring her joy and last her entire life.
Those who knew Janet can attest to her fun-loving spirit, her contagious laughter, flashy fashion sense, and of course, her signature sassiness. She was also an accomplished piano player. Together with her husband, she loved to entertain and was known for the annual music-filled parties at their beautiful Woodland Avenue home on Christmas night that all their friends and family looked forward to and still talk about.

Anyone who played an instrument was welcome to the party and they entertained their guests with jam sessions of all the songs of their era with Janet taking center stage on the piano. She played with flair and gusto and would often end a song with a flourish, laughing at how over the top she was.
She spent many years traveling the world with her husband but her favorite place to be was watching the sunsets from the balcony of their condo in Marco Island, Fla. She and John made growing old look easy as they enjoyed their snowbird lifestyle, surrounded by the many friends they made at the Sandpiper condo. Here, she was known for instructing her beloved water aerobics class, where the workouts came just as much from the side-splitting laughter she created as they did from her leading the exercises.

More than anything, Janet loved her family and was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be deeply missed by her beloved husband, Dr. John; daughter, Susan Pappas and son-in-law, Rob Earle; and grandchildren, Natalie and John Menassa. She also leaves behind her brother, Bernard Oursler (Patricia) of Westminster, MD.; sister-in-law, Maroula Papathanasiou, nephew, Achilleas Papathanasiou (Maria); and niece, Olga Papathanasiou (Thanasis) all of Trikala, Greece. Other special relatives she leaves behind are nephews, Nicholas Papas, M.D. (Barb), and Costa (Brenda) Papas; niece, Christine Wright (Billy Johnson); and cousin, Joanne Papas. She was preceded in death by her father, Russell Oursler; stepfather, Herbert Reitemeyer; and mother, Margaret Reitemeyer all of Pikesville, Maryland; and cousin, Dr. Harry Papas.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet’s name may be made to the Akron Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church or to a charity of your choosing.

Calling hours will take place on 3-5 p.m. SUNDAY, Dec. 4 at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road, Fairlawn. A Trisagion service by Rev. Father Dean Kokanos will be at 4:30 p.m. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. MONDAY, Dec. 5 at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel with interment immediately following at Rose Hill Burial Park.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N Miller Road  Akron, OH  44333.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.