Janet "Jeff" Comella

Janet “Jeff” Comella, 90, of Dover died peacefully early Saturday morning, Dec. 30, 2017 in Park Village at Dover surrounded by her children. Born Dec. 10, 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late William and Gertrude (Cox) Jeffreys and the wife of the late Dr. Charles (Chuck) M. Comella married for 64 years. Chuck passed away on April 14, 2013.
Jeff was a devoted mother and wife. There was nothing she would not do for her husband or her children, including long trips to swim meets, feeding and baling hay for horses, finding hamsters stuck in plaster bound walls, and caring for her grandchildren.
Mostly, she was dedicated to woman's rights and instilled in each of her daughters a sense that no barrier was too great for women and crashing through those barriers was their sole responsibility to demonstrate the strength and need for women to guide our society. To illustrate this commitment, Jeff served over a decade as a Dover Councilman at Large ending her career as the Finance Chairman of the fine City of Dover. She singlehandedly "fought city hall" to bring the farmer's market to Third Street and to renovate the downtown area to enhance the retail environment for businesses. When she first won election to serve as Councilman at Large, she rejected a name plate that called her Councilwoman at Large declaring: "I ran for Councilman at Large, not Councilwoman at Large". Her sense of pride with the accomplishments of her daughters was never hidden. She was a true warrior of women's rights.
She loved and supported her husband, Chuck. Together they traveled to all parts of the world, enjoyed dinner with friends, went to the opera regularly, scaled winter bound mountains, and explored the deep ocean seas, if only ankle deep. She was a gifted painter, an avid bridge player. She reveled in the heritage of old Europe and in the mysteries of Egyptian history and art. But always she was there for the kids, her daughters and son. There was no person on earth that would stand in the way of her children, if she had her way--and she managed to have her way like only a mother can do.
She was a very active woman. She loved her Great Dane, Fred, took Fred to Florida every year for many years and delighted in driving her little convertible Spitfire with Fred the Great Dane staring over the windshield sniffing the air and enjoying the ride. She was a school teacher early in her life, and later worked as a substitute teacher at St. Joseph elementary school. She had many close friends and those friends knew their importance to her. She will always be remembered for her quick smile, the sparkle in her eye, the easy laugh, her love for life and her love for Chuck.
She will be greatly missed by her family that includes five children, Patsy (Marc Harris) Comella, Cindy Comella, and Kathy (Robert) Sullivan all of Chicago; Mike (Linda) Comella of Dover; and Bitty (Curtis) Koch of Sandusky; a beloved sister, Jo Ann (Wally) Schmerheim of Tyler, Texas; and 12 grandchildren: Willy, Mikey, Maggie and Lizzie Sullivan; Michael (Meghan) and Jeffrey (Saryn) Koch; Molly and Patrick Gill; David (Amanda) Barber, JoLyn (Jim) McFadden, Anna and Chas Comella. She was also blessed with 3 great grandchildren, Mikey Barber, Molly Barber and Fox McFadden. She was always delighted to see her great grandchildren and hopes to have more.
Friends may call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 from 10am until noon. Private funeral services will follow later Saturday with interment in the Dover Burial Park. Those who may wish to express a fond memory of Jeff can sign the online guestbook on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com
Memorials may be made to Mobile Meals of Dover-New Philadelphia, c/o Union Hospital, 659 Boulevard, Dover, Ohio 44622 in Janet’s memory.