Janelle Jaye Chamness

Born May 14 th 1990 Janelle Chamness was the second of six tightknit siblings and mother of two

beautiful children. She is preceded in death by her brother Ian and Grandmother Glenda. She is survived

by her sisters Amanda & Macy, her brothers Adrian & Henri, her Grandfather Earl, and her son and

daughter- Morrison & Willow. She was a core pillar of her family and her sudden loss, in her sleep on the

night of January 28th, leaves an incalculable hole behind.

Janelle was full of passion for the stage and musical theatre. Every moment of her life, you could see

that love in everything she did. She began dancing at a young age, extending that passion with theatre

all throughout school. After graduating High School she continued to pursue studying theatre at Baldwin

Wallace University for a time. She found her home in theatre at PHS(now known as Springboro

Community Theatre) and performed alongside her dearest friends in a multitude of shows. She then

branched out and spread her joy at theatres all over Ohio. A few of her favorite roles were in Pippin, The

Laramie Project, Jekyll and Hyde, and Hair. She went on to instill an abiding love and appreciation for the

arts in her own children, who can always be found singing and dancing.

Equally precious to Janelle as her lifelong enthusiasm for performative art, was the passion she

developed for education after the birth of her two kids. Always empathetic, insightful, patient, and wise

she found her professional calling in the nurturing and instruction of children and found satisfaction in

the role of stewardess and shepherd for developing young minds. Most recently she taught at

Nightingale Montessori, which her children also attend, helping instruct the school’s Chickadee class.

Deeply devoted to her students, their families, and her coworkers she was incredibly invested in

everyone’s happiness, growth, and fulfillment.

Janelle was perpetually supportive of everyone she interacted with and through her generosity of time

and attention naturally wove together a community of love and support that touched hundreds of lives

and uplifted everyone it touched. A tireless opponent of injustice Janelle was a fierce advocate for the

marginalized, under-represented, overlooked, and abused who never ceased to critically refine her

understanding of things to be a better activist, ally, and friend.

We are collectively lessened her loss. She had an outsized positive impact on the lives of many people.

The world is more beautiful for having had her in it and a little dimmer now that she’s left the stage. She

will be greatly missed.