Janet Rider

Janet Ruth (Van Leeuwen) Rider, 84, of Rockford, MI, formerly of Sparta, MI, passed away, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at home with her beloved husband Ron and six children nearby. Janet lived a blessed life of faith, family, and fun. She loved to sing, dance, swim, travel, entertain, and play cards, dice, and board games—and she only lost if the winner cheated. Immensely talented, creative, and adventurous, in addition to singing and dancing, Janet was the choir director at Holy Family Catholic Church, liturgist, songwriter, teacher, coach, and entrepreneur. While she was still in school, she successfully owned and operated her first dance studio below her parents’ J & J Tavern, where she and Ron met after his softball game. She paid her way through Aquinas College, and bought a car and boat. Her love of water goes back to her childhood at Camp Lake with her dear parents John and Jean VanLeeuwen and her sister Joan, who preceded her in death and whom she missed daily. The lake also provided the backdrop for the often told story of her allegedly saving Ron, who despite not being an avid swimmer himself, always made sure Janet had a pool, a pool membership, or a beach vacation. Janet was fiercely devoted to her children and grandchildren, protecting, directing, teaching, coaching, and cheering for them. She was always ready—hair styled and lipstick and earrings on—to cruise with the kids in her convertible. She never left home without a little extra money in her purse to take them for a treat. Her influence was obvious in the extraordinary measures taken by her family, particularly Ron, Ann, Dave, and Maddy, to care for her at home. Janet was never late for Church and was happiest when the family gathered for holidays, all crammed into one house, and attended Mass together. Over the years, she served as a second mother to her sons from around the world that she and Ron hosted over the years as exchange students: Carlos Merino Gracia of Spain (Deceased), Guilherme (Ana, Thomas, Daniel, Sofia) Hermann of Brazil and Javier Mediavilla Maria of Spain. She is survived by her husband Ron; children Joan (Mark) Becker, Ann (Dave) Psyhos, Patricia Russell, John (Sandra) Rider, Rebecca Rider, and James Rider; grandchildren Brendan (Patti) Feliczak, Tyler (Stephany) Feliczak, Kiersten (Ryan) Pedrotti, Erica Russell, Haley (Tyler) Beste, Gabriel Becker, Alexandra Psyhos, and Maddisyn Psyhos; great-grandchildren Bryant, Reagan, and Layla Feliczak, Caiden, Maverick, and Nixon Pedrotti, and Theodore, Augustus, and Walton Beste, and many special relatives and friends who take comfort in knowing a choir of angels joyfully welcomes her. A Memorial Mass will be at 11:00 am on Friday, May 31, 2024 at St John Vianney Church, 4101 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming. A luncheon will immediately follow at the KC Event Center, 5830 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49509. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Janet Rider, please visit our flower store.