Janet Ann Barr of Dublin, OH passed away on February 2, 2019 after a sled riding accident with her grandchildren. Born Janet Ann Medwid, March 19, 1954 in Pittsburgh, PA to Andrew and Mercedes Medwid. She moved to Lexington, OH when she was 4.
She was preceded in death by Andrew and Mercedes Medwid, brother-in-law Jim Barr and niece Sarah Medwid Gorsline. Loved by so many, she was an avid reader, swimmer, loved the ocean and the beach, and gardening. She graduated from The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy and recently retired from pharmacy in 2013.
Janet Medwid Barr was often referred to as the dog whisperer. She loved all dogs and they loved her – at first site. Known as GaGa by her grandchildren she was especially involved in their lives – their games, school events, playing at the beach, teaching them to swim, baking cookies and making pierogies.
She loved caring for them. But they knew to look out for her “back hand”. An avid gardener she recently had become most interested in making sure monarch butterflies flourished in the summer on their way to Mexico.
A very competitive swimmer in her youth, she was invited to try out for the Ohio State swim team. She told the coach she was too busy with Pharmacy school. Recently she did a 2.
5 mile river swim in Charleston, SC with her sister Susan. She stayed active with yoga and swimming weekly and biking with Joe. Rarely is she out in the community that she is not recognized as the nice pharmacist from Kroger.
She and Joe loved to walk especially at High Banks Park. They enjoyed traveling nationally and internationally and she was especially an expert at planning the all-family vacation at Kiawah Island every summer. Janet and Joe met in grade school and then dated in high school and through college at The Ohio State University.
They married immediately after graduation in 1977. Their daughters also attended OSU. Fortunately, the girls married great men who wanted to live in and around Columbus, near Janet and Joe.
All who knew her often commented on the genuine, honest, giving, and loving way she lived. She is survived by her husband Joe, two daughters, Jennifer (Nick) Dean and Beth (Craig) Krenzel, 5 grandchildren – Brayden, Ellie, Austin, and Colt Krenzel and Nolan Dean, and brothers Grady (Cindy) and Mike (Margo) Medwid and sister Susan (Andy) Francis. Family will receive friends at the Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell, 450 W Olentangy Street, Powell OH on Thursday, February 7, 2019 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 8, 2019 at 10:00 AM at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church 10700 Liberty Road Powell, Ohio with Father Jim Black as Celebrant. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Online condolences can be sent to www.
rutherfordfuneralhomes.com. Those interested in giving to research in her name may send contributions to: OhioHealth Neuroscience Care at Riverside Methodist Hospital 3525 Olentangy River Rd Ste 5310 Columbus, OH 43214 or the Central Ohio Lions Eye Bank 262 Neil Ave. Suite 140 Columbus, OH 43215 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Janet Ann Barr please visit our Sympathy Store.
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