Janet Ryden Michener, 88

Janet Ryden Michener, age 88, of Hendersonville died Sunday, March 2, 2014 at Pardee Hospital.

She was born Feb. 11, 1926, in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of the late Harry Ryden and Laura Bloom Ryden. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and from Grinnell College, where she met her husband. They were married after graduation from Grinnell, and lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Connecticut before moving to Hendersonville in 1982.

She had a successful mid-life career as a real estate broker in both Connecticut and North Carolina, retiring in 1990. She served St. James Church as a former choir member, a Thursday Thrift Shop worker, and on numerous committees. She earned golf team letters in high school and college, was a former ladies club champion at Kenmure, and continued to play into her 80's.

She was preceded in death by her son, Jimmy Michener. She is survived by her husband, Wallace Michener, whom she married in 1948; a daughter, Ann Michener of Asheville; a son, John Michener and wife Julie of Minneapolis; and a brother, Richard Ryden of Des Moines, IA.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 14, 2014, at St. James Episcopal Church. The Rev. Dr. Joel Hafer will officiate. At her request her body will be donated to the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and her cremated remains will be buried at a later date in the St. James Memorial Garden.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. James Church, 766 North Main St., Hendersonville, NC 28793 or to Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, P.O. Box 1460 Hendersonville, NC 28792.

To sign the online register book, please visit www.shulerfuneralhome.com. Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family.