Janice Ellen Beeching-Pieper

Janice Ellen Beeching-Pieper was born on Friday the thirteenth, September 1950 to Adriana Jane and the late Edwin Stine Beeching in Shelby Ohio. She has one brother, Fredric Edwin. Janice graduated from Shelby High School in the class of 1968 and went on to collegeat Valparaiso University receiving a BA in December 1971 and an MS from Peabody/Vanderbilt seven years later. In addition to her mother and brother, she is survived by her husband, Ronald Pieper and two sons Steven and Daniel.

Janice began her career working for Valparaiso University as the Alumni Secretary and then Admission Counselor. She married on 10 March 1973 and followed her husband to Maryland. Ronald's job sent them to England several years later and for the next twenty years the family hopped back and forth between Maryland and Yorkshire. She would tell people that she had one foot firmly planted on both sides of the Atlantic. During one of these trips to England, Janice applied for and was hired to run the Family Support Center, a counseling center for the members of the small American community. That position grew into an opportunity to join the Employee Assistance Service upon her return to Maryland. With a passion for service and an inquisitive mind, Jan received additional professional certifications and was a life-long student taking continuing education classes at every opportunity. In both a professional and personal capacity Janice touched many lives and brought out the very best in people.

Janice had a firm faith in God and believed that a church is a gift that God gave to help individuals grow in their relationship with Him. Finding Our Savior Lutheran Church in Laurel left only one question, "Do we have enough energy to be a part of this church?" As it happened, we did and for the next 38 years Our Savior was our family of faith even in our long absences. Janice and her family found a Lutheran Church in Leeds England that filled our time away.

On Mother's Day, Janice experienced problems with balance and weakness in her left side. She ended up at the hospital with many stroke symptoms, but after much testing and a biopsy she found that this was far more serious. She struggled with radiation and chemotherapy with only small successes and just before Christmas treatment was stopped and she was sent home for hospice care. She died on Valentines Day, 14 February 2012. Many will miss her smile and willing encouragement, her frugal extravagance, her ability to listen but none more than her family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Valparaiso University, Office of Institutional Advancement, 100 Campus Drive South, Valparaiso, IN 46383 OR Our Savior Lutheran Church, 13611 Laurel-Bowie Road, Laurel, MD 20708.