Janis S. Rafferty, age 86 of Celina, Ohio passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at the Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater. She was born the daughter of Lawrence and Marcella (Rekart) Blankemeyer in Cloverdale, Ohio on August 11, 1939. On December 16, 1967 she married George Rafferty, who survives living in Celina.

She is also survived by her three children; Kyle (Christy) Rafferty of Lewis Center, Carrie (Ty) Cook of Marysville, Jodi (Eric) Hanna of Plain City, nine beloved grandchildren; Lauren Rafferty, Samantha Rafferty, Ava Rafferty, Ryan Cook, Adam (Hana) Cook, Haley Cook, Peyton Hanna, Owen Hanna, Cole Hanna and her two great grandchildren; Ray Cook and Ruby Cook and her sister Marilyn Hedrick of Brookville, IN.

In addition to her parents, Janis was preceded in death by her sister Phyllis (Leo) Wurst and her brother-in-law Roger Hedrick.

Janis graduated from Ottoville High School with the Class of 1957. She was formerly employed at Lennox Tool and Machine Builders and McCalls. She retired from JCPenney's in St. Marys.

She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina.

Janis was one of the kindest, most selfless people you could ever meet. She always put others before herself without a second thought. She found joy in simple pleasures like knitting, pickleball, tennis, and golf, and spending time with friends over a game of cards or Bunco.

What she treasured most, though, was her family. She took great pride in watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and do what they love most; those moments meant more to her than anything else.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina, with Fr. Robert Muhlenkamp officiating. A Memorial Gathering will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church an hour before services.

Janis's arrangements have been entrusted to the Lehman-Dzendzel Funeral Home in Celina.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Education Endowment of Immaculate Conception Catholic School, 222 Wayne St. Celina, Ohio 45822.

Condolences may be shared with the Rafferty Family on-line at LehmanDzendzelFH.com.