Janice Burns – Champion, Pa., formerly Donora

Janice Burns of Champion, Pa., formerly Donora, died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, at age 79. She was the daughter of Thomas Walter and Mary Kelly and was born Aug. 31, 1943, in Donora. She was preceded in death by her loving husband and soul mate of 50 years, Stephen E. Burns. Loved by so many, Janice will be deeply missed by her family and friends. A loving and devoted wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend who has touched so many lives, Janice’s legacy lives on through her loved ones, who will always love and cherish her dearly. She graduated from Donora High School in 1961, where she was a cheerleader. She graduated from California University of Pennsylvania (California State Teachers College) with a bachelor of science degree in education. Janice was a speech language pathologist at the Pittsburgh Allegheny Intermediate Unit for 35 years. Janice was an avid skier for 50 years, and she and her husband Steve were a well-known presence in the Seven Springs community. She was a ski instructor at Seven Springs and taught many students, friends and family how to ski, passing on her love of skiing to so many people. She was certified with the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). She and Stephen were responsible for training many ski instructors through the Learn To Be A Ski Instructor Program giving them a love of teaching skiing! She was an active member of the Mon Valley Ski Club. She held many offices and was most noted for being membership chairman and an anonymous stalwart behind-the-scenes leader of the club. She was a devoted Pitt fan and season ticket holder for over 50 years and was a member of the Golden Panthers. Janice and Steve were former members of Mon Valley Country Club. Janice is survived by her brothers, Robert Kelly of Upper St. Clair and Tom Kelly and wife Maggi of Ponte Vedra, Fla.; brother-in-law, Edward Burns and wife  Ginny of Monessen; and sister-in-law, Kathy Burns of Cazenovia, N.Y.; nieces and nephews, Raymond Olexa, wife Nicole and children, Grace and Rae, of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Rosemary Vatakis and children, Alexa, Dana and Jackson, of Monessen; Nick Vatakis of Monessen; Jimmy Burns of Monessen; Jill (Burns) Allen, husband Michael and children, Rachel and Hannah of California; Jacqueline Mascotti and children, Martina, Mary and Jenevra, of California; Steven Burns, wife Lisa and children, Kaitlyn and Michael of California; Amy Kelly Golden, husband Paul and children Michael, Luke and Jack of Riverside, Conn.; Thomas Kelly “T.K.”, wife Cynthia and children, Millie, Brooke and Tommy of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Christian Kelly of Pittsburgh and Mariah Kelly of Pittsburgh; niece, Jennifer Burns Mauro and husband Tony and their children, Anthony and Angelo of Monessen. She was so appreciative of the special friends and relatives who were there for her for all the caring, kindness and love with a special thank you to Jane and Russ Stull, Barb and Bob Howe and her nurses and caregivers at Excela Health. Janice will be remembered for her warmth, caring, thoughtfulness and generosity, always making people smile with kind words, great stories and her shining personality. She lived her life with grace and love. She was a true caregiver and impacted the lives of so many people — making everything she did, every place she went and everything she touched better. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, at RHOME FUNERAL HOME, Monessen PA 15062. A celebration of her life will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, at Rhome Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Monongahela Cemetery with a reception at Mon Valley Country Club from 1 to 3 p.m.