Janet Richards

Richards (Williams), Janet Alene Of Kalamazoo, MI Janet Alene (Williams) Richards, 81, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away on November 11, 2020, at Rose Arbor in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She passed peacefully, and on her terms, with her family by her side. Janet was born September 21, 1939, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Garnet and Ruth (Hood) Williams. Janet received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Western Michigan University in 1961, and went on to be part of many area organizations, combining her love of music and faith. She was an Elementary Vocal music teacher at KPS. She was a church organist and choir director for many area churches over the years, including St. Barnabas Episcopal in Portage, St. Timothy Episcopal in Richland, St. Stephens Episcopal in Plainwell, and Cathedral Church of Christ the King in Portage. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity for women, part of Kalamazoo and Michigan Music Teachers' associations. She also enjoyed teaching piano and voice to many area children and adults. Her interests included cooking, training dogs, and training and showing horses. She was an accomplished athlete, and loved playing golf and softball. She once caught a fly ball, fell forward into a somersault, and popped back up with the ball still in her mitt. She accomplished this Herculean task at the tender age of 60. She also greatly enjoyed attending and sharing in, her family's many activities. Janet was preceded in death by her parents, Garnet and Ruth; husband, Norman; daughter-in-law Kimberly Richards. Janet is survived by her brother, James and her brother John and his wife Patsy Williams; son, Bruce Bradley Richards, his wife Mary Frances and grandson Joseph, and granddaughter Lys; son Andrew Bryan Richards, his wife Pamela Schuen and granddaughters Zoe (Colin) Nokomis and Israel Seraphim; son Stephen Christopher Richards, his wife Cynthia Haas and granddaughter Katie (Nathan) Bagley, grandson Robby (Erin) Haas, great-granddaughters Bristol and Elliotte Bagley; and son Gregory Michael Richards, and granddaughter Moyra and grandson Ben. Cremation has taken place, a memorial service celebrating Janet's life will be scheduled next year. The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the staffs at Bronson Methodist Hospital, and Rose Arbor Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. The family is being assisted by the Langeland Family Funeral Home. Please visit Janet's personalized web page to sign her online guest book and leave a condolence or message for her family at: https://www.langelands.com