Janet Houseman

Janet May Houseman, age 89 years of Niles, Michigan died at 1:50 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at the Hanson Hospice Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan following a brief illness.

She was born on June 14, 1927 in Niles to Roy H. and Ethel A. (Stryker) Rice. She was graduated from Niles High School, and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo). She lived for a few years in Bermuda and returned to Niles where she lived the rest of her life. She was employed for many years in the offices of the Mathematics Department at the University of Notre Dame.

Janet was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles where she also sang in the choir and worked in the office. She was also a member of the Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Center in Niles. She enjoyed playing bridge and traveling, and had visited much of the United States and Europe.

She was formerly married to Paul S. Houseman.

Surviving family includes her children, Kathryn A. (& Marcus Bümn) Houseman of Round Lake, Illinois and Thomas J. (& Marjorie Vanderwater) Houseman of Yukon, Oklahoma; grandchildren Timothy (& Kathryn) Houseman and Kara (& Jesse) M c Ray; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Robert Rice, Frances Shute, Thomas Rice, Richard Rice, and Harry Rice.

The memorial service for Janet Houseman will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2016 in the Tyler Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Janet may be made to Fernwood Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, 13988 Range Line Road, Niles, Michigan 49120. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.