Janet Kay Philion, 81, of Galion, Ohio, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with dementia.
Born on July 18, 1944, in Bowling Green, Ohio, Janet was the daughter of Abby Lucille Baker Johnson and Harry William Johnson. She was one of seven children and the fifth in birth order, growing up in a close-knit family that shaped her lifelong devotion to faith, kindness, and putting others first.
Janet graduated from Bowling Green High School in 1962 and went on to attend Bowling Green State University, where she earned her degree in education. She began her career teaching in Michigan before marrying and moving to Galion, where she built both a life and a legacy centered on family and service.
In Galion, Janet worked alongside her brother-in-law in his medical practice and later at Crawford County Orthopaedic and Galion Hospital. Throughout her career, she served in roles spanning office management, billing, and scheduling-quietly keeping things running with her signature diligence, warmth, and care for others.
Janet was a devout Catholic whose faith guided every aspect of her life. She was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she found deep joy in worship, prayer, and fellowship. Her faith was not just something she practiced-it was something she lived, through her patience, gentleness, and unwavering love for others.
Above all else, Janet was devoted to her family. She was a loving wife for 56 years, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend-known for her selflessness, kindness, and warm, welcoming spirit. She found her greatest joy in time spent with her children and grandchildren: Carrie and John Jarvis and their children Abby and Ian; Bob and Jenny Philion and their children Jackson and Grace; and Amy and Joe Kaluzne and their son Vinny.
Janet also had a love for life’s quiet pleasures-morning coffee, reading, puzzles, singing with her sisters, and a lifelong affection for animals, especially horses and dogs, always having a deep affection for her favorite canine companions. She had a gentle, easygoing nature, paired with a quiet strength that carried her through life’s challenges with grace.
She will be remembered as loving, faithful, patient, and kind-a truly angelic presence in the lives of all who knew her.
Janet is survived by her loving family, who will carry forward her legacy of faith, love, and compassion: her children, Carrie (John) Jarvis, Bob (Jenny) Philion, and Amy (Joe) Kaluzne; her beloved grandchildren, Abby Jarvis, Ian Jarvis, Jackson Philion, Grace Philion, and Vinny Kaluzne; and her siblings, Celia (Jace Aldrich) Johnson and Ken (Karen) Johnson.
She is now reunited in heaven with her beloved husband, Albert, and her siblings Margaret Fahle, Roger Johnson, Jim Johnson, and Ruth Agee.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Galion, Ohio, with Friends may call on Sunday, March 29, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Gompf Funeral Service – Galion Chapel, 303 Portland Way N., Galion. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 30, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 135 N. Liberty St., Galion. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. After the burial, family and friends are warmly invited to gather at the St. Joseph Catholic Church Activity Center for a luncheon and a time of remembrance. Together, we will celebrate Janet’s life and the lasting impact she had on all who knew and loved her.
Those wishing to share a memory of Janet or send their condolences to the Philion family may do so by visiting www.masfh.com.
The Gompf Funeral Service – Galion Chapel, 303 Portland Way N., Galion is honored to serve the family of Janet Kay Philion.
Funeral Home: Gompf Funeral Service – Galion Chapel
Website: www.masfh.com