Janet K. Sheely

Janet K. Sheely died on Saturday, November 25, 2023 of complications from a stroke earlier that week.  She was in her 93rd year.

Born in Lancaster in 1930, she was the daughter of the late Arthur S. Wiker and Esther Christ Wiker.  Her brothers, Carl and Don, predeceased her.  Janet started school in the Lampeter School District and graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School in 1948 and was a member of the National Honor Society. Janet attended business school in Lancaster after graduation.

She married the love of her life, James J. Sheely, in 1949 and soon after had three boys: Scott, Bruce, and Mark.  Janet eventually used her clerical skills as part-time secretary of the Community Evangelical United Brethren Church of which she and Jim were charter members.  She played the piano from a young age, taught Bible school, and was very active in the Christian education program of the church.

When an opportunity arose in the early 1970’s to buy the R.S Manus and Saul Solomon businesses, she and Jim worked night and day to make the new business one of the leading watch material and wholesale jewelry supply houses in the Mid-Atlantic.  They had homes in Lancaster, Mt. Gretna, and Florida over the next 25 years.  They eventually moved to Cornwall Manor in Lebanon County where they lived until Jim passed away in 2016.  They were married for 67 years.  Janet missed Jim very much and just moved back to Lancaster County recently.

Janet especially prized education and pushed her children to pursue both academic and skill-oriented education after high school.  She loved flowers and cats and played the piano until just recently, often playing favorite hymns and carols by memory.

She is survived by her sons, Rev. Dr. Scott J. Sheely of Lancaster, husband of Rev. Jacquelyn Rebman Sheely and Bruce Sheely, RN of Utah, as well as grandchildren including Adrienne Sheely Zavalick, wife of David Zavalick of Lancaster; Andrew Sheely of Millersville; Ryan Sheely, husband of Rachael Dougnac Sheely; and Adam Sheely.  She was predeceased in 2021 by another son, Mark Sheely, husband of Marianne Deverter Sheely.  She and Jim were especially close to Doreen Heider, wife of Michael Heider.  Jim was Doreen’s uncle and godfather.

Great-grandchildren include Philip Zavalick, Henry Zavalick, and Joy Zavalick Stockbauer (wife of Bram Stockbauer) children of Adrienne Sheely Zavalick; Connor Sheely and Sydney Sheely, children of Andrew Sheely; and Rafael Sheely, son of Ryan Sheely.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral service at DeBord Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, 141 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA 17602 on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 11:00 am.  A viewing will be held at the funeral home from 10:00 am until the time of the service.  Interment to follow in Conestoga Memorial Park.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to:  Aaron’s Acres, 1861 Charter Ln #114, Lancaster, PA 17601.