Janelle M. Schierling

SCHIERLING, Janelle M., born on February 24, 1950, in Columbus, Indiana, peacefully passed away at home in Summerville, South Carolina, on February 18, 2024. She was the beloved daughter of Huber V. Schierling and Ethel M. Mason Schierling. Janelle was preceded in death by her parents and her sister-in-law Lynn Schierling. Janelle is survived by her son John Mason Wilkes (Grace), her siblings George Schierling and Scott Schierling (Maribeth), nieces and nephews Robin Cordonnier (Neil), Ross (Jessica), Danny (Allison), Cassie, and Susan Keen (Grant), great nieces and nephew Nathan (Jessica), Nicole, Rachael, Scarlette, Hannah and Lillian.

Janelle's pride and joy were her son, John Mason and her three cherished granddaughters, Jane, Eleanor, and Claire Wilkes. She adored them, and they, in turn, adored their loving “Mimi”. Jane, Eleanor and Claire will all have fond memories of their Mimi’s world travels, Christmas mornings together, and Mimi generally doting on them at every opportunity. 

A 1968 graduate of Fairmont West High School in Kettering, Ohio, Janelle continued her education at West Virginia University, graduating in 1972 with a BS degree, cum laude, in Dental Hygiene and as a member of the Phi Mu sorority. She further pursued academic excellence, earning an MS degree from the Ohio State University in 1981 and a Doctor of Education from the University of Cincinnati in 1987. Janelle dedicated over 35 years of her life to higher education as a Professor of Dental Hygiene at the Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati's Raymond Walters College in Blue Ash, Ohio, where she served as program chair from 1984 to 1993 and then again from 2005 to 2011. She enjoyed Honorary Professor Emerita status from the University of Cincinnati until her passing. Outside of her teaching responsibilities, Janelle was an active member of the Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Association (serving as president for the 1983-84 term) and the Cincinnati Dental Hygienists’ Association (serving as president for the 1993-94 term and receiving the Dental Hygienist of the Year award in 2012).

Known for her kindness, love of travel, and her adventurous spirit, Janelle touched the lives of many. Her warmth, humor and generosity will be dearly missed by friends in both Cincinnati, OH, and Summerville, SC, where she enjoyed her retirement and quickly built a strong community of friends with whom she enjoyed all that Charleston had to offer.

A memorial service honoring Janelle's life will be held on March 16, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Church of the Holy Cross in Daniel Island, SC. Friends and family are invited to attend and celebrate her life. Demonstrating Janelle's enduring love for travel and her sense of humor, she requested that her ashes be spread in Europe, playfully nudging John Mason to finally travel to the continent (a request he is committed to honoring). A thirty-plus year survivor of breast cancer, the family requests donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (give.bcrf.org) in memory of Dr. Janelle Schierling in lieu of flowers.

Janelle's memory will forever be cherished by those who knew and loved her. May she rest in peace in God's kingdom.