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Janie Irene Ball Lehman

April 5, 1947 – February 14, 2022

Erie, PA

Janie Irene Ball Lehman, 74, of Erie, Pennsylvania and formerly of Greenville, Pennsylvania and Hollywood, California passed away at Fairview Manor, with her loving husband by her side, on Monday, February, 14, 2022, after a five year long, hard fought battle from rectal cancer.

She was born on April 5, 1947, in Greenville, Pennsylvania to parents, Theodore Schultz Ball and Evelyn Jane Watson Ball, who preceded her in death. Her father-in-law, Roy A. Lehman, also preceded her in death in 2017. Janie was dedicated in the Salvation Army church, Greenville Corps, where her grandparents, Senior Major and Mrs. L.E. Watson, served as officers in the Northwestern Pennsylvania area.

She attended public schools in Greenville, until 1961 and moved to Hollywood, California, where she graduated from Hollywood High School in 1966. Mrs. Lehman was an accomplished singer performing in musical productions, numerous churches, private ceremonies, the Hollywood Bowl and was ultimately selected as a member of the "Sing Out 66/Up With People" cast.

Janie performed Christian concerts at many NW PA Churches in the 80's & 90's with her friend and accompanist Mrs. Marge (Rev. Russ) Hines of Cochranton, PA.

In 1968, Mrs. Lehman proudly enlisted in the United States Army (WAC Corps). She served in the medical corps and was stationed at Forts Lewis, Sam Houston and McClellan. She subsequently pursued employment in the health care field and volunteered with the Erie County Hotline organization.

On November 28, 1974, she married Rodney A. Lehman of Franklin, Pennsylvania prior to moving to Erie, where they have resided since 1975. For the last decade, they were caregivers of their elderly neighbor, Theresa Benacci, who passed at age 99 in March, 2021. They are members of the First Alliance church, Erie.

Janie and Rodney enjoyed many trips to Las Vegas, as well as annual trips to their favorite places, Niagara Falls, NY and Bennezette, PA, to see her elk.

Mrs. Lehman is survived by her husband, Rodney A. Lehman; her brother, Ted Ball and sister-in-law, Katharine Diemert, of Calabasas, California; cousins, William Coburn and Mark Watson, of Los Angeles, California; mother-in-law, F. Maxine Lehman, of Franklin, Pennsylvania; and numerous DeLong, Schultz and Watson family cousins, along with the many Lehman family relatives in the Pennsylvania/Ohio areas.

Special thanks to her surgeon, Dr. John Reilly and the doctors and nurses at the Erie VA, UPMC Hamot Medical Center, and UPMC Passavant in Pittsburgh, PA.

Very special thanks to ALL of the Staff at Fairview Manor for their tender and compassionate care for the last 6+ months throughout her long journey.

And to a very dear friend, Nadean Sitter, from the Erie VA Woman's program, without whose help she would have never made it this far.

Friends may call at the Gardinier -Warren Funeral Home, 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, PA on Saturday, from 2 to 5 pm. Further visitation will be held at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Road, Erie, PA on Sunday from 3 to 6 pm and are invited to attend a Funeral Service there on Monday at 1 pm, conducted by Pastor Blair Blakeslee. Interment will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery with Military Honors rendered by the American Legion Millcreek Post #773. Memorial contributions may be made to Edinboro Camp and Retreat Center, 12940 Fry Rd. Edinboro, PA 16412, where Janie and Rodney spent over 30 yrs. camping and fellowshipping with many friends, or the Erie Vet's Center, 240 W. 11th St., Erie, PA 16501.