Janis K. Copeland

Janis Kay Copeland

63, of Ormond Beach, FL, formerly of Carmel , IN, passed away Friday morning, October 18, at Ormond Beach Cancer Hospital seven months after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

Janis was born on February 3, 1950, in Vincennes, IN, the third of five children, and the only daughter, of M.A. (Van) and Mary Loraine (Penny) Montgomery Van Dam. Her family moved to New Castle, IN in 1953 where she grew up and graduated from Walter P. Chrysler Memorial High School in 1968. She was outgoing and friendly to everyone she met but developed an especially close bond with a group of girl friends that grew through the years as they continued to stay in touch with each other and gathered for reunions at least every few years. The group became known as the Ya Ya's in later years as they supported each other through good times and bad.

She spent most of her adult life in the Indianapolis area and worked for several companies in administrative positions including Reis - Nichols, Melvin Simon & Associates, Federal Home Loan Bank, Dr. Christine Bishop, and IOMSA. Janis had attended St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis for many years, and her faith during her battle with cancer was an inspiration to all. Janis had moved to Ormond Beach, FL in July to live with her daughter, Stephanie Holman, and her family with Stephanie as her caregiver, and she continued to attend church services there and to receive visits from friends and family as often as her health allowed her.

Janis was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Don Copeland, who passed away in 2003, and she was confident in her faith that she would be reunited with them in eternity.

Survivors include her daughter, Stephanie (husband Jerry) Holman of Ormond Beach, FL; her grandson, Jordan Sullivan of Indianapolis; her granddaughter, Hannah Holman of Ormond Beach, FL; her step-grandson, Tyler Holman of Indianapolis; four brothers, David (wife Susannah) of Barrington, IL, Don (wife Jackie) of Robards, KY, Doug, and Dan both of Corpus Christi, TX; one aunt; two uncles and numerous cousins; nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4 in St. Luke's United Methodist Church on the Northside of Indianapolis, with the Rev. David Williamson officiating, with visitation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for family and close friends. There will be no burial service as Janis had requested cremation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent's Center for Cancer Care online at: http://www.stvincent.org/cancercare/. The family extends special thanks to Dr. Christopher Leagre who provided excellent treatment and compassionate care prior to Janis's relocation to Ormond Beach.