Janis Baj DiCorleto, 73, of Gates Mills passed away peacefully on December 17, 2024 following a long illness. She was predeceased by her parents Frank and Marion Baj (Bloomfield, CT), her brother John Baj (Sycamore, IL), her brother-in-law Thomas DiCorleto (New Hartford, CT) and her longtime friend Bertha Kennedy (Chesterland, OH).

Janis is survived by her high school classmate and husband of 49 years Paul DiCorleto, her sister Sharon Corcoran (Granby, CT), her brother Martin (Edie) Baj (South Windsor, CT), and her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Linda DiCorleto (New Hartford, CT), Peter and Margaret DiCorleto (Lascassas, TN), Rose and William Yourell (Duxbury, MA) and Julia and William Gibson (Waltham, MA).

Janis’ greatest passion was for children. Most importantly, her two daughters, who always made her very proud and gave her great joy, Angela (Faisal Khan) DiCorleto (Shaker Heights) and Adrienne (Jason) VanArsdall (Fairfield Twp., OH), and her three grandchildren Amina DiCorleto-Khan and William and Xavier VanArsdall.

Janis was also very devoted to the hundreds of children with developmental disabilities that she treated during her over 40 years as a practicing pediatric occupational therapist in Ithaca, NY, Seattle, WA and NE Ohio. For over 25 years she was employed by the Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities treating children first at the Metzenbaum School in Chesterland and then in home and school visits throughout Geauga County. The young children were never intimidated by her due to her diminutive size and the fact that she would immediately sit on the floor next to them to provide therapy. She was a champion for these special needs children and their parents with the administration when budget reductions threatened services.

The family wishes to thank the many caregivers from Home Instead, Kemper House- Highland Heights, and Cypress Hospice who provided compassionate care to Janis during the progression of her disease.

Funeral services will be private; however, a Celebration of Janis’ Life will be held on January 25, at 4:00 pm at the Cleveland Botanical Garden . Please go to this link (https://everloved.com/life-of…) to sign up for notification about the celebration. 

Those who wish might consider making a memorial donation in Janis’ name to the DDC Clinic for Special Needs Children in Middlefield, OH (https://www.ddcclinic.org/mak…) which provided medical care to many of the children that Janis treated over the years or to a children-focused charity of your choice.

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