Janet Alverta Thompson Peters Schleicher, 70, passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, after battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for more than four years.
She was the wife of Bruce Anderson Schleicher. They shared nearly 25 years of marriage.
Born in Lynchburg in 1950, Janet was the youngest daughter of Alverta Jane Hill Thompson and Samuel Thornhill Thompson. She graduated from E.C. Glass High School in 1968 and Madison College (now James Madison University) in 1972 with a degree in education.
Janet taught special education for 32 years at Dunbar Elementary School in Lynchburg, Central Elementary School in Amherst, Dublin Elementary School and Pulaski Middle School until her retirement in 2014.
Janet grew up as a devoted member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Lynchburg and later transferred her membership to St. Paul United Methodist Church in Christiansburg. She enjoyed traveling, vacationing at Smith Mountain Lake and Nags Head, N.C., spending time with her friends and family, going on her Friday evening movie dates with her husband, gardening, sewing, drawing, painting, baking (sourdough bread), collecting beautiful artwork, attending concerts (in arenas or in her car) and card games.
Janet will be remembered for her warm and loving spirit; her ability to make friends and family with anyone, anywhere; her sense of humor; her smile and her consummate tardiness. In her spare time, she enjoyed helping people create wedding invitations and graduation announcements. She was a loving wife, a mom to everyone, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher, mentor and best friend. Her passing leaves a hole in the lives of everyone who was privileged to be a part of hers.
Janet is survived by her husband Bruce; children Harry Channing Lea (Rachel Ashton), Laurie Jane Tucker (Timothy Tucker), Helen Lindsey Peters and John Michael Peters (Anne Peters); grandchildren Layla Hope Peters, Hayley Noelle Tucker, Owen Samuel Tucker and Erin Autumn Ashton; as well as special friends and family Harriett Darst, Claudia Jutras and Marian Frenk; siblings Samuel Thompson, Martha Anne Coleman, Joyce Funk, Carole Mickle and Wade Thompson; and by the father of her children and her first husband, Ronald Preston Peters.
She was predeceased by her parents, Alverta and Sam Thompson.
The family extends gratitude for her caretakers, Kathy Ayers, Laura Collins, Dr. Brian Southern, husband Bruce, the hospice nurses and aids, and many others.
The family plans to hold a Celebration of Life service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in memory of Janet to Cleveland Clinic.
Gifts can be sent to: Cleveland Clinic Foundation c/o Philanthropy Institute P.O. Box 931517, Cleveland, Ohio 44193-1655 or online at my.clevelandclinic.org/giving (Respiratory Institute).
