Janet Elinor Rawlings

Janet Elinor Rawlings passed away peacefully at Sun Terrace Care Center in Sun City Center, Florida on Monday, September 9, 2024. She was 85. Janet was born on July 31st, 1939, to Roger Roy Clouse, and Mary Elinor Clouse of Cleveland Heights Ohio.  

The family was active in Fairmount Presbyterian Church, the community, and enjoyed summers at the Chautauqua Institution where Roger served as a Trustee.  

Janet continued to enjoy summers at Chautauqua most of her life. 

She graduated from Lutheran High School and went on to get her Bachelor's degree in Primary Education from Ohio Northern University.   She soon took a job as a first-grade teacher at Brook Park Memorial Elementary in Brookpark, Ohio, and met her soon-to-be husband, Donald Rawlings, the fourth-grade teacher, and A/V specialist.  They were married July 30, 1966, at Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights. 

Janet continued to teach while Don completed his Master’s and Educational Specialists Degrees. They soon adopted their son, Steven Rawlings from Lutheran Children’s Aid Society and Janet traded her teaching career to be a mother. Don ran the Chapter 1 federal reading program in Bay Village Ohio, so they moved the family to Avon Lake, the community next door in 1974 and soon adopted their daughter, Christine Anne later that winter.  

The couple raised their family there and were active members of the Avon Lake United Church of Christ, several community charities, and shared the Chautauqua summer experience with their children. 



They moved to Sun City center in 1994 and became long-time residents on Bellglade Avenue where they continued serving the community, participating in community watch, were active in the local United Church of Christ, and loved to travel on many day trips. They moved to assisted living at Sun Terrace in early 2013 due to Donalds battle with Parkinson’s Disease, who later passed later that year. Janet continued to be active in the community, enjoying arts, crafts, bible study and other social groups until her passing. 

She is survived by both her children, Steven and Christine, her Sisters Dorothy O’Brian of North Olmsted Ohio and Linda Young of Westfield New York, her grandchildren Kayla Brown, Brendan and Jordan Nelson, Great Grandchildren Remi and Liam, Nieces Lisa and Heather, Nephew Kevin, Great Nieces and Nephews and beloved friend Nancy Russell who helped care for her later in life. 



There will be a small private service in New York State later this month with family. 

Condolences can be mailed to Steven and Christine at P.O. Box 128, Otto NY 14766.