Janice Esther Ehlers

Janice (Marcellay) Ehlers, 55, passed away in her home in Puyallup, Wash., peacefully with her family at her side on Feb. 21, 2010. She lost a three year battle with brain cancer.

Janice was born in Kelowna, B.C. Canada on Nov. 22, 1954 to Adeline and Fred Marcellay. She moved with her family from Canada to Brewster in 1966. She moved to Oroville in 1970 graduating from Oroville High School in 1972. She graduated from ITT Petersons Business School in Seattle in 1973. Janice lived in Los Angeles, Calif. from 1973-1974 while working in various offices. In 1975 she married James H. Ehlers in San Diego, Calif. They have one son, Jade Fredrick George Ehlers.

For the past 25 years Janice and family lived in the Tacoma/Puyallup area. Janice’s life revolved around her husband, son’s activities and belly dancing. Janice was a well known belly dancer, performer and teacher in the dance community. “Jaleh” belly dance extraordinaire raksjaleh.com. She taught various forms of Egyptian dance in the Puyallup area and had over 30 students at any time in various classes with beginners, intermediate and advanced students. She was known throughout the Pacific Northwest, Oregon, California and Alaska for workshops teaching the “art of belly dancing” and she choreographed new dances for students. She taught her students to design and sew their own costumes.

Janice is survived by her husband, James H. Ehlers of Puyallup; her son, Jade Ehlers of Puyallup; Brothers: Claude Marcellay of Oroville and Jerry Marcellay of Westbank, B.C.; Sisters: Bunny Williams of Oroville, Doreen Rodriguez of Westbank, B.C. and Leona Swawilla of Nespelem, Wash.; and various nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Adeline Marcellay; Brother, Fred Marcellay Jr.; and sister, Karen Marcellay.

Services were held Wednesday, Feb. 24 in Puyallup, Wash.