Rhonda Lois Roark Janeka

Rhonda Lois Roark Janeka, age, 63 of Newark passed away suddenly on February 16, 2017, after a battle with heart disease.

Rhonda was born in Wilmington, DE  and was raised in Chelsea Estates in New Castle. She was a 1971 graduate of William Penn High School and subsequently earned bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Delaware. Rhonda was a retired New Castle County public school teacher. She spent her thirty years of teaching divided between Glasgow and McKean High Schools.

Rhonda was a gifted teacher who spent her time caring for animals, gardening, traveling and its most benefactive corollary, meeting and corresponding with other sojourners. A true "Gypsy at Heart," Rhonda was always planning her next trip. Locally she volunteered for Delaware Hospice's Festival of Trees. She attended Newark United Methodist Church, Lady Bug Quilt Guild at Newark Senior Center, was a member of the Funseekers RV travel club and played Bongo with friends for three decades. Rhonda enjoyed sharing her talents and developing new ones. She was a Renaissance Woman.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jonathan W. Roark Sr., her mother, Dolores Caldwell Roark, and her brother, Jonathan W. Roark Jr. Rhonda will be dearly missed by her sister, Alison Roark Brayfield and husband, David; her sons, Thomas Jr. and Zac Janeka, her daughter, Laurie Janeka Gandy and husband, Mark; her former husband, Thomas Rooks Janeka, Sr.; her five grandchildren, Dominik, Lorenzo, Analys, Maddie and Tyler; her nieces, Emily, Julia and Kelly; her nephew, Shawn; her step-children, Amy and Zachary Simmerman; her maternal aunt, Jean Hurd and husband, Roger and countless friends and extended family members.

Friends may visit with her family on Saturday, March 4 from 10 am to 10:45 am at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Pike Creek where a Celebration of Life will begin at 10:45.Following the celebration you are welcome to Skipjacks Restauant, 401 Louvier's Dr. Newark, DE 19711 from 12 - 4 pm We look forward to celebrating the life that the Great Lord and Spirit decided to transition into its next form. 

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the smile train @ http://www.smiletrain.org or Paws for Life, Inc. @Paws For Life, Inc. | Rescued Dogs for Adoption in MD, DE, and PA.   

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