Obituaries

Janie Kern (McCue), 76, of Winter Haven, Florida, and formerly of Wintersville and Steubenville, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Lakeland, Florida.

Janie was born on April 11, 1950, in Bellshill, Scotland, to the late John and Anne (McDowell) McCue. On July 20, 1969—the historic day of the Apollo 11 moon landing—she arrived in the United States alongside her first husband, James M. Kosek, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. With her signature wit, Janie loved reminding everyone that she had a harder time landing at JFK than Neil Armstrong did landing on the moon.

For many years, Janie dedicated herself to caring for others at Ohio Valley Hospital in Steubenville, serving patients across the Emergency Department, the Infant Nursery, and the Skilled Care Floor. In 1994, she retired so that she and her husband, Donald, could embrace the sunny Florida lifestyle—though anyone who knew Janie knew she never truly stopped working.

Her natural hospitality and boundless energy shone brightly in every community she lived in. She was always at the heart of planning neighborhood festivities, holiday celebrations, and community events. A woman of deep Catholic faith and heritage, Janie was an active member of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Winter Haven and a proud member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). She possessed a profound heart for children and the underprivileged, faithfully organizing and donating to back-to-school drives as well as holiday food, toy, and clothing collections.

Among her greatest joys was visiting Walt Disney World. Janie was the ultimate Disney ambassador, always eager to guide visiting family and friends through the parks so they could experience pure Disney magic.

Janie’s legacy of warmth, humor, and selflessness lives on through her family:

• Husband: Donald "Chonk" Kern, her devoted partner of 33 years
• Sons: James (Melissa) Kosek of Cary, NC, and Scott A. (LeDawn) Kosek Sr. of Wintersville, OH
• Stepdaughter: Debra (Roger) Mills of Weirton, WV
• Grandsons: Scott A. (Samantha) Kosek Jr., Shane (Hailey) Kosek, and Joshua Kosek
• Great-Grandsons: Rowan and Rhett Kosek
• Sister & Family: Sister Maureen (James) Woods, nephew John (Lorraine) Woods, and niece Edna Woods, all of Tillicoultry, Scotland, U.K.

In addition to her parents, Janie was preceded in death by her first husband, James M. Kosek, and her infant sister, Sarah McCue.

Friends may call at Dunlope-Shorac Funeral Home in Wintersville, Ohio, on Sunday, September 20, from noon until the time of services at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Michael Gossett officiating. Private burial at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.