Obituary of Janice Louise Hughes

Janice Louise Hughes March 1, 1944-June 21, 2021 Age 77, of Millcreek Twp., passed away on Monday, June 21, 2021 of metastatic breast cancer (preceded by breast cancer in her 50’s and skin cancer in her late 30’s). Beloved wife of Ernest Hughes, and loving mother of Alison and Christopher Hughes. Also survived by sister, Jean Garrick (John) and brother John Allison (Cheryl). Daughter of the late ED and Lil Allison of Pittsburgh, and sister of the late Judi Ficarra. Janice graduated in Medical Technology from Thiel College in 1966, and met her husband, Ernie (an engineer at Ferro Corp) while working on her internship at Lakewood Hospital in Cleveland. Upon graduating, Janice was hired as a Medical Technologist by Lakewood, and on August 1966, she and Ernie married at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh. Janice continued working at Lakewood for the next 4 years until she and Ernie and saved enough money to start a family. In 1971, being pregnant with her first child Alison, they bought a house in Strongsville, outside of Cleveland. Their 2nd child, Christopher was born in 1974. In 1983, upon Ernie’s promotion to VP of FerroECA (a joint venture between Ferro Corp and Erie Ceramic Arts), the family moved to Millcreek Twp. Janice embraced her new community and became a member of the Welcome Club and the American Association of University Women. She and Ernie also participated in Special Olympics with their daughter, Alison, and became band parents when Chris played the clarinet in the high school band. Janice was very artistic and especially loved drawing and painting. When Ernie retired, they enjoyed taking art lessons together at Asbury Barn. She also loved sewing and crafts, and at one point, decorated cakes for a local grocery store. In addition, she inherited her father’s love of gardening. She would grow all her plants from seed, using the grow lights he left to her when he died. Most of all, Janice loved spending time with her family. In summers, they enjoyed biking around Presque Isle and picnicking on the beach with their Labrador Retriever, who loved the water. In later years, the enjoyed walking the Greenway Trail, visits from their daughter Alison (who lives in a group home in Corry, PA), playing family games, and working on projects around the house. The family remembers Janice for her courage in facing adversity, as the threat of reoccurring cancer was always in the background of her life. She will be deeply missed. We thank all the wonderful, caring neighbors and friends who helped Janice and her family in their greatest need. Funeral arrangements are private, handled by the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either Corry Barber Resources, 670 Sciota Rd., Corry, PA 16407 or to Lakeshore Community Services, 1350 West 26th Street, Erie, PA 16508, Attn: Sue Bennett.