Janice (Shaheen) Lance

JANICE (SHAHEEN) LANCE

Janice (Shaheen) Lance, 66, peacefully passed away at her home in Canal Fulton on Thursday, May 16, 2024 due to complications from Glioblastoma (brain cancer).

She was born on April 10, 1958, in Canton, OH, the daughter of Nicholas B. and Rosemary (Esber) Shaheen. She attended GlenOak High School, graduated from Malone University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts and Miami University with a Master of Science in Microbiology. She had a successful and lengthy career at both Aultman Hospital and Brewster Cheese Company, working in the Aultman Microbiology Lab and as manager of Quality Control at Brewster Dairy.

Her life revolved around her family. She enjoyed spending time with her immediate family at the weekly Sunday lunches and annual extended holiday family celebrations. Her time spent with cousins, nieces and nephews were some of her most cherished moments.

Janice met the love of her life, Gail Lance, and this year they celebrated their 20-year wedding anniversary milestone. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, family and dear friends. Her adventures took her across the country cheering at MLB games, running in destination races, visiting National Parks, attending Broadway Theater shows, and acting as tour guide for the niece/nephew graduation trips.

Janice discovered her athletic abilities later in life and at 51 took up running. She became an avid runner and eventually completed 15 marathons while frequently placing in her age group in other running events. She also enjoyed Timken Ski Club trips, hiking in the National Parks and biking on the Ohio Erie Towpath.

Janice was a lifelong member of St. George Antiochian Church of Canton. She recently retired and frequently volunteered with her mother, aunts and sisters preparing food for the popular church dinners.

For those who knew Janice, she truly had a heart of gold...she was compassionate, loyal, selfless and caring. Over her lifetime, she deeply touched countless lives, including family, friends, local running community, co-workers and church parishioners. Everybody wanted to be in her presence and to be her friend.

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She is survived by her husband, Gail Lance; mother Rosemary Shaheen; brother Paul (Claudia) Shaheen; sisters, Linda and Marilyn Shaheen; and numerous nephews, nieces, and extended family. Janice was preceded in death by her father Nicholas B. Shaheen.

Family and friends will be received from 6-8pm on Thursday, 5/23/24 at Lamiell Funeral Home, 1353 Cleveland Ave NW Canton, OH 44703. Funeral Service on Friday, 5/24/24 at 10am at St. George Antiochian Church of Canton. Burial will follow at West Lawn Cemetery, 7th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44708.

Memorial donations in memory of Janice may be directed to the Stark Parks (https://starkparks.com/friends/how-to-donate/) and St. George Antiochian Church of Canton (https://www.stgeorgecanton.com/index.html).

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