Janet Elizabeth DeJeu

Janet Elizabeth DeJeu, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away on July 4, 2025, at the age of 86, at Northwest Ohio Hospice in Toledo. She was born on August 2, 1938, in Toledo, Ohio, to Leroy H. Fifer and Dorothy Fifer. Janet was raised in South Toledo and attended Libbey High School, where she excelled in business, art, and music. She later attended Lourdes College in Sylvania and continued her education at several community colleges in South Florida. In her early twenties, Janet married and became a devoted mother to three sons and a daughter. Once her children were in school full-time, she began her professional career. Her first position was as a Welcome Wagon Representative in Toledo, where she greeted new residents and worked with local businesses to offer discounts and gifts. Janet was highly successful in this role - a local car dealer even lent her a 1966 Ford Mustang to promote Welcome Wagon throughout the city. Janet then joined First National Bank, working in Marketing and leading the Women's Division. She played a key role in establishing charge card services for local businesses and training branch staff during the introduction of ATMs. Later, Janet earned her Real Estate License and worked for Cavalear Realty, specializing in closings. Her career took another step forward when she joined Aetna Life Insurance Company in the Employee Benefits Division. There, she managed group accounts for large employers, overseeing benefits such as medical, dental, life, disability, and flexible spending plans. She also supervised the administrative staff in Aetna's Toledo office. Janet enjoyed summers at her cottage on Bird Lake in Michigan, where she loved boating, entertaining, and creating memories with her family. On April 26, 1986, she married Paul DeJeu. After retiring from Aetna, she remained active in the group health insurance field, working with consulting groups on emerging benefit products. In 1992, Paul retired, and the couple purchased a winter home at The Vines in Fort Myers, Florida. They were active members of The Vines Country Club and lifetime members of Sylvania Country Club in Sylvania, Ohio. Together, they traveled extensively, visiting Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Hungary, and Austria. When in Toledo, Janet and Paul cherished time with their children and grandchildren. After Paul's passing in March 2017, Janet continued living in their Ragan Woods home, devoting time to art projects and family. In recent years, due to health concerns, Janet moved to Otterbein Pemberville, where she lived in a lovely apartment at Oakwood Assisted Living. The family is deeply grateful to the staff - nurses, aides, administration, food service, and housekeeping - for their outstanding care, respect, patience, and love. Special thanks also go to the compassionate team at Northwest Ohio Hospice in Toledo. Janet was known for her positive spirit, warm smile, empathy, work ethic, strength, and unwavering kindness. She was a supportive mother, devoted wife, and a genuinely loving person. She is survived by her children: Kevin (Delores) Lewis of Largo, FL, Robin (Bruce) Peterson of Maumee, OH, Tobin (Mary) Lewis of Seattle, WA, Corbin Lewis (Julie) of Toledo, OH, Mark (Kathleen) DeJeu of Twinsburg, OH, Sue (Greg) Harris of Macedonia, OH, John "J.B." (Rebecca) DeJeu of Brooklyn, MI. Also surviving are her sisters: Donna Flynn of Toledo, OH, Denise (Richard) Stoner of Toledo, OH, Debra (Matthew) Papik of Waterville, OH. She is also survived by 28 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Paul DeJeu; her parents, Leroy and Dorothy Fifer; and her former husband, E. Brent Lewis. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd on Wednesday, July 9 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. The Funeral will be held at Coyle on Thursday, July 10 at 10:00 a.m. with entombment at Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send a donation in her memory to either Hospice of NW Ohio, Otterbein Pemberville Senior Life Community. Please leave a condolence message for the family and view Janet's video tribute at CoyleFuneralHome.com.

Tributes

Janet Elizabeth DeJeu

August 2, 1938 - July 4, 2025