Janet Schindler

Janet Schindler passed away peacefully on Friday, August 25, 2023, in North Olmsted, OH.  She was born in Hamilton, OH, on August 19, 1939, to John (Dick) and Irene Estridge.  She resided in Lorain County since 1970, and was a leader and role model to many.

Jan graduated as class valedictorian from Fairfield High School in Butler County, OH, in 1957.  In 1960, she graduated as a Registered Nurse from Bethesda Hospital School of Nursing, Cincinnati, OH.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio State University in 1962, and a Master’s Degree in Education from Kent State University in 1972. 

Jan was employed as an RN at various hospitals and was a Nursing Instructor at Fairview General Hospital School of Nursing, Cleveland, OH, and at MB Johnson School of Nursing in Elyria.  Janet was Vice-President of Patient Care at Elyria Memorial Hospital from 1984-1990.  In 1990, she began her career as a Field Representative (surveyor) for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  She surveyed hospitals across the country and Puerto Rico.  She was very proud of the fact that she was able to travel to all 50 states.  Beware the person who asked, “including Alaska and Hawaii?”  Her response was always the same…”Well, they’re states, aren’t they?”  She worked until age 74, retiring in 2013.

Jan was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, in Elyria, OH.  She was a past member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elyria, OH, where she served as a Sunday School teacher and on the Church Council.  A woman of great faith, she enjoyed visiting different churches in her travels with work.  She was also a member of various nursing organizations, a member of American Legion Post 12 Ladies Auxiliary Unit and the Ladies Singing Drill Team.  She was also a member of the Leadership Lorain County Class of 1985-1986. 

She enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  Rex and Jan were regulars at the American Legion and Lorain Saxon Club.  The big family dinners at Audrey’s house or watching the Vermilion parades at Connie’s were some of her favorite times of the year.  She was always reading or working on puzzles and enjoyed gardening and golf.  Watch out if you were playing Canasta with her, she was a sneaky card player!

She met her husband, Rex E. Schindler, while she was a student nurse at Ohio State and he was a patient in the hospital.  She didn’t like him at first, but he offered to take her out to eat, and the rest is history.  They were married for 42 years until his death in 2004.  She was also preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Kenneth; sisters-in-law, Sally Estridge and Patty Hothem; brothers-in-law ,Thomas Schindler, David Schindler, and David Eichenauer; and daughter in law, Ana Schindler.

A large and loving family survives.  Sister, Linda (Clark) Thompson, of Hamilton, OH, brother, John H. (Alma) Estridge, of Venus, FL, daughters, Marcia (Bob) Broski, of Parma, Audrey (Jeff) Matthews, of North Ridgeville, Connie (Jason) Scanlan, of Vermilion, son, Philip, of New York City, 7 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a special family friend, Laura Faulkner.

Visitation will be Tuesday, September 5, 2023 from 5:00 pm -6:30 pm at Reichlin Roberts Bollinger Funeral Home, 327 Cleveland Street, Elyria, OH 44035, with a celebration service beginning at 6:30 p . Private inurnment will be held at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak Memorial Foundation, Civista Bank, 24 E. Main Street, Berlin Heights, OH 44814, or maxtonsoviak.org.