Obituary

Janice Eileen Ross, AKA Meemaw and GSM, 79, of Vanport Township, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the comfort of her home. 

Born on November 18, 1946, in Beaver Falls, she was the daughter of the late Senator James E. Ross and Dorothy J. (Moravec) Ross. 

Jan retired from NOVA Chemical Corporation after more than 20 years of service. She was a devout Catholic and a lifelong member of Saints Peter and Paul Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who adored spending precious moments with her family. Jan was known as a proud Democrat and Union supporter. She found solace in her quiet home, watching British television shows, Jeopardy, and snacking on chipped chopped ham. 

She is survived by her three loving daughters, Megan Farrelly, Brooke (Michael) Farrelly, and Trisha (Sean) Van Winkle; grandchildren, Madelyn Cataldo, Skylar Van Winkle, Saxon Van Winkle, and Ella D’Alessandris; great-grandchildren, Zaiden, Valarie, and Frank Jr; her sisters, Judith (Michael) Deelo, Deborah (Adrian) Cisneros, Rebecca (Mark) Fischer, Helen (Randy) Estep, Bernadette Zmitrovich, Dorothy Ross, and Barbara (Frank) Bovalino; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and friends. 

In addition to her parents, Jan was preceded in death by her brother, James Ross Jr. and his wife, Kathy; an infant brother, Kevin Ross; and her brother-in-law, Frederick Zmitrovich. 

Jan lived her whole life as a proud American. But it is not the same America she knew and loved. 

PITY THE NATION 

Pity the nation whose people are sheep 

And whose shepherds mislead them 

Pity the nation whose leaders are liars 

Whose sages are silenced 

And whose bigots haunt the airwaves 

Pity the nation that raises not its voice 

Except to praise conquerors 

And acclaim the bully as hero 

And aims to rule the world 

By force and by torture 

Pity the nation that knows 

No other language but its own 

And no other culture but its own

Pity the nation whose breath is money 

And sleeps the sleep of the too well fed 

Pity the nation oh pity the people 

who allow their rights to erode 

and their freedoms to be washed away 

My country, tears of thee 

Sweet land of liberty!

– Lawrence Ferlinghetti (after Khalil Gibran)

In accordance with Jan’s wishes, there will be no visitation. 

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, April 30^th at 10:30 a.m. at Saints Peter and Paul Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 200 Third St., Beaver, PA 15009. 

Inurnment will be at a later time at the Beaver Cemetery Mausoleum. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jan’s name to the American Red Cross by donated platelets or the Beaver County Democratic Committee, 426 Adams St., Rochester, PA 15074. 

The family would like to thank Gallagher Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care. 

The GABAUER-TODD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 340 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009, is honored to be serving the Ross family during this time.