Janice Elizabeth Reed

Janice Elizabeth Reed, age 80, of Dravosburg, died shortly before 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2023 at Jefferson Hospital. She was born in Homestead on June 19, 1943 and is the daughter of the late Edwin and Julia Jeran Williamson. After Julia’s death, Eva Gay Williamson, was there as stepmother for Janice. She was raised in the same home as her father helped build when it was mostly an apple orchard.

Janice attended Dravosburg Elementary School, then Glassport High School, then went to nursing school in Braddock. She was employed for several years at Allegheny General Hospital in the ER which eventually led her to the pediatric ward. She then worked in the ER at other hospitals and in the pediatric ward at Western Psych. She retired her career from the IV team at Jefferson Hospital and that is where she met her husband. They were at a potluck dinner for young adults and were seated next to each other. They shared recipes and phone numbers and by November 9th of that year they were married at her church, Good Shephard Lutheran on Maxwell Drive. Her pastor, along with the two pastors from her husband’s church, all officiated.

While still attending Good Shepherd, she took charge of painting, decorating, and procuring the necessary supplies and furniture for Good Shepherd’s first nursery. The couple eventually joined Zion Lutheran Church on Brownsville Road in Brentwood where Janice became very active in the bible study and other groups which included a movie group where members met once a month to discuss that month’s choice. She also joined the liturgical choir and with the help of two other women they started Zion Prayer Shawl Ministry. Unfortunately, her declining health kept her relatively inactive for a few years before her death.

She is survived by her husband, John Reed and her brother, Edwin (Betty) Williamson of Cape May, New Jersey.

Along with her parents and stepmother she was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Lippert Reed.

Family and friends are welcome at Strifflers of Dravosburg/West Mifflin, Inc., 740 Pittsburgh McKeesport Blvd., Dravosburg, PA 15034 (412-678-6192) on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. and then again on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Zion Lutheran Church, 4301 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. and officiated by Reverend Mathew Magera. Burial will take place at Lebanon Cemetery in West Mifflin.