Janice R. Fitts

Janice R. Fitts SUNAPEE — Janice R. Fitts, of Kent, Ohio, and Sunapee, New Hampshire, passed away on Oct. 15, 2021, at the age of 93. Jan was born on July 12, 1928, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the daughter of Albert and Lucy Harvey, who were born in England. She graduated from Emerson College and received her master’s degree from Kent State University in guidance and counseling. On June 24, 1950, she married Duane Fitts. Jan was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Russell and Alvin Harvey; and sisters, Mabel Harvey and Bernice Longe. She was a former English teacher in Ohio and Massachusetts and was Davey Junior High Dean of Girls and later a guidance counselor until she retired in 1994. She was chairman of the Counseling Department. Jan belonged to the Ohio Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors and even served as a chairperson for the Executive Board. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Education Honorary and was a former president and vice president of the Theta Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta. She served as a past vice president for Camp Fire Girls and past treasurer for the League of Women Voters. For many years, Jan organized a youth volunteer program for Shrewsberry Home and organized the volunteer program from 1974-1980 for the American Cancer Society. She was also a part of the pen pal program to first graders, knitted numerous sweaters and hats for premature babies, and knitted numerous afghans for Warm Up America. She received The Edward S. Reilly Award for Scholarship, Leadership, and Positive Influence, the Seton Award for service to Camp Fire Girls, and the A. Margaret Boyd Overseas Fellowship in 1978 to study in England. She enjoyed reading, belonged to several book clubs, liked to play card games with her grandchildren, go to lunch with her special friends, and do crossword puzzles. She is survived by her husband, Duane Fitts; and children, Bryan (Kelley) Fitts, of Stow, Ohio, Lori Raines, of New Concord, Ohio, and Holly (Jim) Davidson, of Reading, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Brandon (Jena) Fitts, Chelsea (Rich) Gliddon, Ryan (Evelyn Warren) Raines, Nathan (Ciera) Raines, Matthew (Holly) Davidson, and Michael Davidson and fiancée Gabby Laranjeira; great-grandchildren, Kaia, Kinsley, Lyla, Elizabeth, Riley, Hannah, Silas and Sloan. A memorial service will be held for close friends and family on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, at 1 p.m. at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 West Main St., Kent, OH 44240. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kent Free Library, 312 West Main St., Kent, OH 44240; the Portage County Animal Protective League, P.O. Box 927, Ravenna, OH; or Friends of the Abbott Library, P.O. Box 314 Sunapee, NH 03782. To share a memory, send a condolence, or light a candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.bisslerandsons.com.