Janet E. Keefer

Keefer, Janet E.,79, Laurel View Village, died Sept. 12, 2016 at Windber Hospice. Born Nov. 9, 1936 in Clarksburg, WVA daughter of the late Jack and Estelle (Hoffman) Keefer. Survived by brother Jack, sister Joanne and numerous nieces and nephews. Janet grew up in Johnstown and graduated from Johnstown High School in 1954 where she was hired by Pennsylvania Electric Co., before her graduation.  After 40 years of service she retired from there.  Janet believed in furthering her education at area colleges. She had an associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees from St. Francis University. Following this she graduated from UPJ with another bachelor’s degree. Janet was a cancer survivor, having a double mastectomy. Her life was never easy. Janet suffered a massive ankle injury that lead to 3 surgeries to heal an infection. When that failed, she had her right leg amputated up to her two artificial knees. She also had an artificial hip.  Janet suffered from osteo-neuropathy that affected the bones by losing calcium. Many difficult things in her life, though severe, never got Janet down. One of Janet’s experiences was a ride over Lake Marion in an early model T Ford tri-motor airplane that was the maiden commercial flight for Pan Am. The original pilot returned for a reunion and she gave him the 2 rolls of film she had taken during the flight. She said she was the only passenger. What a blast! Loving drums and bagpipes, Janet saw the Black Watch(called the Queen’s Own) at the Canadian Exposition in Toronto.  Did she get there by bus? Not Janet. She bought a used BMW motorcycle and headed to Toronto. She also went to Kitty Hawk where the Wright Bros. flew their plane, on her motorcycle, of course. While at Kitty Hawk, she stopped for lunch at a local seafood shack, while looking out the window, she told the owner she saw someone’s motorcycle falling over. It took a few second’s to recognize “someone’s” was her’s. Again traveling to Cape Cod, BMW of course, she noticed an elderly couple following her a long way. Stopping to get gas, the woman approached her and speaking with a cultured German accent, said she always wanted to ride a motorcycle. It turned out her husband was a superior lens (Leica) grinder and they escaped in 1939 to avoid the Nazis and death as they were Jewish. By the way, when Janet learned to ride her BMW cycle, she passed her state test at the Ebensburg Police Barracks in a bad snow storm. To get home, typically Janet bought two newspapers, put comics and front pages rolled up in her sleeves and sales and auto sections in the front of her thighs. “That’s just Janet.” Janet and her very best friend Jan Wright, whom she met 16 years ago, met at the Windber therapeutic pool doing water aerobics. They were the “ 2  Jans” after that. They both became volunteers at Windber Hospital. Jan, at different functions, and Janet at integrative medicine, playing her native American flutes at hospice and resident rooms. Janet learned silver-smithing from C. Bradley in N. Carolina and Saugus, Mass. She also did faceting and gemstone polishing. She taught classes in polishing at the Log Cabin in Westmont for a season and a class at Penelec on weekends for employees and families. She also was very talented in the art of stained glass. She made many beautiful pieces for friends and family including full doors and windows. Janet’s final great adventure sadly ended in the care of Windber Hospice on Monday Sept. 12 2016. We could never count Janet out. She is nicknamed “Amazing Grace” as she played her beloved native american flute at church services with Pastor Jeff at the Laurel View Village. She even played for the visitors at the Flight 93 memorial. While in hospice, Janet continued her last great adventure, as always with grace, humility, and humor. Our “Amazing Janet” will always be remembered as loving and kind. God has a special place for her in his heavenly home. Janet will be sadly missed by family, Jan, “Uncle Kenny,” Lynette, Sharon and Ismael and one of “the Three Amigos,” Mikie. A memorial service will be held at Laurel View Village chapel on Friday Sept. 16, 2016 at 10:00 am with her good friend pastor Jeff Bassette presiding. Inurnment at Forest Lawn Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to either Windber Hospice or the Cambria County Humane Society in Janet’s honor of her great love for all creatures, big and small. Goodnight Gracie, goodnight John Boy. I love you, I love you too. Cremation arrangements in care of Meek & Dalla Valle Funeral Home, Inc., Windber. www.meekfuneralhome.com

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