Janet S. Breeden

November 13, 1938 - April 17, 2017

Janet Stitzel Breeden passed away on Monday, April 17, 2017. She was born on November 13, 1938 to John L. and Dorothy (nee) Gorsuch Stitzel. She felt fortunate to have grown up on a dairy and swine farm in Reily Township where she was an active 4-H member showing cattle, nutrition and sewing projects at the Butler County Fair. Janet graduated from Reily High School in 1956 with 14 class members. To achieve her life-long goal of becoming a teacher she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Education degree from Miami University. She went on to teach for 30-1/2 years, the last 28 of those as a kindergarten teacher in the Talawanda district where she served as Grade Level Chairman. She was married to her high school sweetheart H. Scott Breeden from 1960 to 1981. They were parents of two daughters, Alison Paige and Susan Denise. Janet and Scott spent baseball seasons in Omaha, San Diego, Dallas, Buffalo and Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Janet was a life-long member of Faith Church (formerly Faith United Church of Christ) serving as a deacon and elder as well as teaching high school students in Sunday school for 30 years. She also served as a 4-H leader for 15 years. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Chi, Phi Delta Kappa, Butler County Retired Teachers Association and Ohio Retired Teachers Association. She was chosen to be a Martha Holden Jennings scholar and was honored to be named Talawanda Teacher of the Year in 1987. She also served on the Butler Rural Electric Coop’s Community Connection committee. Janet was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Judith Ann Stitzel, her former husband and his wife, aunts, uncles, four cousins, dear friend Lucy Ferris as well as her sisters-in-law Patricia Breeden Beeler, Kathleen Breeden Henderson her husband Herb and Lynda Breeden. She leaves her devoted daughters Alison Duncan and her husband, David of Fairfield Township, Susan Hammer and her husband Jay of Liberty Township, her grandsons Elijah Thomas and Ethan William Reams of Hanover Township, step grandchildren Jacob and his wife Sarah Hammer, Rebecca Hammer and James Hammer all of Columbus, her sister and brother-in-law Lois and Bill Cropenbaker of Hamilton, nephew Seth Cropenbaker and his wife Brooke of Oxford, niece and goddaughter Molly Elizabeth Cropenbaker of Hamilton and her fiancé Jim Foliano, her aunts Geneva Gorsuch Mount of Mason, Melba Stitzel Keehner and her husband Lee of West Chester and brother-in-law Ralph Beeler of Eaton. Two special nieces also survive, Carolyn Henderson Reinhart and husband Larry of Liberty Township and Barbara Beeler Gibbins and husband Jim of Eaton, her former son-in-law Thomas Reams of Hanover Township. the Friday “lunch bunch”, Mary Beth, Jo, Sandy and Wanda, the Saturday “breakfast buddies”, Alison, Diane and Lois, special church friend, Edmund Sipple, of Hamilton several cousins, great nieces and nephews, friend and care giver Pat Menchen and many former beloved students. Having served students of all ages during her lifetime, Janet has donated her body to the UC College of Medicine. In this way, she felt she could go on teaching a little longer. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Faith Church, 1877 Millville Ave, Hamilton on Sunday, May 21 2017 at 4:30pm with Rev. Jeremy Pruitt officiating. Food and fellowship will follow the service. Weigel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Reily Fire and Life Squad c/o Dennis Conrad, 6376 Peoria Reily Rd, Oxford OH 45056 or to Faith Church 1877 Millville Avenue, Hamilton OH 45013. Online condolences are available at www.weigelfuneralhome.com