Laughter is good medicine, and as a clown, Janis Daily of Richland Township is bringing healing to young and old.

Since 1992, Daily has been a member of the Johnstown Alley of the Classic Clown Club, where she is PoPooree, a clown of many costumes and ever-present wire-rimmed glasses.

She also is a Caring Clown, a division of Classic Clowns, whose members are trained to work in hospitals and hospices.

As a Caring Clown, Daily is Dr. Howie Dewin, complete with red clown nose, white lab coat and clown shoes.

Daily’s clowning began more than 18 years ago, when she first brought laughter to a dying friend.

“When my girlfriend, who was dying of cancer, told me she had never laughed so hard and felt better after my visit, I knew I wanted to do this,” said Daily, who had no official clown training at the time. “Less than a week later, I saw an article in the paper about a clown workshop. I think God stepped in and this was meant to be.”

Daily, whose friends call her Po more than Janis, said when she puts on her clown makeup and costume, everything changes.

“My voice changes, and I get all bubbly,” Daily said. “As PoPooree, I can do things I would never do as Janis, like get on stage in front of 500 people. Janis couldn’t do that.”

Daily’s clown skills include making balloon animals, face painting and doing skits.

“I can juggle one ball real good,” she said of her one clown weakness. “My favorite thing is the walk-arounds, where we have a cart with props and pull them out. I love putting on a show, too. I enjoy that the most.”

With arthritis affecting her hands, Daily knows she won’t be making balloon animals forever.

“This is the nicest thing I’ve ever done for myself,” Daily said.

“It’s my favorite thing to do other than family,” she added.

Daily takes the business of clowning seriously.

Even having multiple sclerosis for the past 20 years has not stopped her from putting on her clown nose and shoes, but she has had to forgo her clown wig and simply dye her hair pink at times because the heat can bother her.

“Even when I don’t feel like it, I put the makeup on, and I’m ready to go,” she said.

Daily has adopted these words from an inspirational plaque she has adorned with PoPooree’s likeness as her motto:

“If I can stop one heart from breaking or help cool one pain, Or ease one life the aching, I shall not live in vain.”

Daily visits the hospital every week as Dr. Howie Dewin, whose makeup and costume are quicker to do.

“When we go to the hospital, we go to the nurses’ station and ask if there is anyone we should not see,” Daily said. “We knock on their doors and ask permission to come in and very few refuse. Their reaction has been unbelievable.”

She also pays hospital visits to fellow members of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church as PoPooree.

When Daily worked at the Lee Hospital Credit Union, she would bring her costume and makeup to work and put them on after hours for her visits.

She worked for the credit union for 11 1⁄2 years, before retiring six years ago this May.

Daily, who is 63, knows she can make a difference in the patients’ lives when she sees the pain in their eyes go away for an hour or even five minutes.

“We don’t always just clown,” Daily said. “Sometimes they talk and we listen. We had a 92-year-old man who talked for 20 minutes. It was what he needed. So it’s not just about making them laugh, even though that’s what we intend. We pray for those we visit.”

Every Caring Clown must adopt a nursing home, and Daily clowns around at Scalp Level Church of the Brethren Home, where she visits once a month.

Daily also does home visits for cancer patients and visits hospices, medical oncology units and cancer centers.

“When you can make patients who are hooked up to IVs belly laugh, that is rewarding,” Daily said. “It takes their mind off their situation.”

Not wanting to ignore patients’ families, Daily also visits intensive-care waiting rooms.

The Classic Clown Club in Johnstown put in more than 1,000 volunteer hours last year, with Daily clowning around for 30 hours as PoPooree and

46 hours with the Caring Clowns.

The clown club is a volunteer, service-oriented group that does not do private parties.

“We like to help people and help raise money for organizations,” Daily said. “We don’t charge, but we like to get a donation to cover our supplies.”

“People fall in love with what we do. There aren’t enough clowns to do everything we’re asked to do. On a summer Saturday, we could be in four different locations.”

Anyone interested in becoming a clown may attend the twice-monthly meeting of the Classic Clown Club, which is held at 7 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at East Hills Senior Center.

Prospective clowns also may call Daily at 266-4668.

Those in clown training must decide on a character that matches their personality and come up with a costume and makeup.

“We are Christian clowns, and every clown has a red dot, which signifies the blood of Christ, somewhere on their face,” Daily said.

As a member of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Daily gives Communion to shut-ins and helps with funeral dinners, the adult ministry team, children’s sermons and the Red Cross blood drive.

She and her husband, Jack, enjoy camping at Prince Gallitzin State Park.

Her son works for Inco Beverage in Richland Township and her daughter is a registered nurse at Scalp Level Church of the Brethren Home, so Daily has plenty of opportunities to go to her three grandsons’ wrestling matches and basketball games.

“My grandsons like that I’m a clown,” Daily said. “I’ve already had to go to a wrestling match as a clown because I had a gig afterward.”

Because it’s easiest to come to events dressed and ready, Daily is often sitting at a stoplight in her clown gear, waving to those around her.

Once an event is over, Daily knows she will be exhausted when she takes her costume and makeup off, so she has gone shopping at Giant Eagle as PoPooree.

“It takes three times as long to shop,” she said. “When people ask what I’m doing there, I tell them clowns have to eat, too.”