Janice Ann Rittman Meyer

Janice Ann Rittman Meyer of Columbus, Indiana and Long Beach, California passed away peacefully on Sunday November 18th, 2018 at Keepsake Village in Columbus. She was 84. Janice was born to Dorothy and Albert Rittman on March 29th, 1934 in Columbus. She lived a kind, productive and humble life. She eventually raised a son while educating hundreds of special needs children to assimilate into society over her lengthy career as a teacher, primarily at the Florence Nightingale School in Long Beach. Janice was raised on a farm in Columbus and attended Columbus High School (Pearl and 7th) where she met her future Husband, Donald W. Meyer. As a college senior, she married in 1955 and graduated from Indiana University in 1956 with a BS in Education where she was also a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority (IU red was her favorite color). They moved to California in 1957 and Janice began her teaching career in 1963. In 1974, they divorced and maintained an amicable relationship. Janice had many friends in her life in California and Indiana with whom she enjoyed various activities including travel and bridge. Her friends recall her cooking skill and her warm and friendly personality. She was known for her Labor Day pool parties in Long Beach. She was charitably active with The Children’s Benefit League in Long Beach among others. She doted on her son and insisted to him into her ‘80s that he, “Eat his green beans” (Obligingly he does). In retirement, she loved watching the TV soap opera One Life to Live and was delighted to get a surprise “hello” phone call from series star, Robert Woods who served on a CSULB Scholarship Fund with her son. She was a loving Grandmother and hosted each of her three grandchildren on various trips to The Long Beach Aquarium, Disneyland and other California theme parks. Not surprisingly given her farm roots, Janice loved animals and took adoring care of her dogs and cats. She was a cancer survivor. She also had an affinity for See’s Candy and loved the rustic beauty of covered bridges. Indiana tomatoes and corn were some of her favorite foods (Do they even grow these vegetables in other places!). In 2014, seeking a simpler living arrangement, she chose to “go home” and moved back to Columbus. Over the last four years, though less mobile, she enjoyed nostalgic driving tours in Columbus to her childhood home (E Co Road 400 S and S 250E) and other special sites. Her caregiver, Brenda enhanced her quality of life in Columbus and was with her when she passed. Janice was graced with friends who continued to check in with calls, cards and notes. At Parkside Court and Keepsake Village she made new friends and became known for her varied, colorful and always appropriately stylish hats, a fashion statement she adopted in California. Both facilities and their staffs in Columbus, as well as Our Hospice of SC Indiana, treated Janice with kindness, graciousness, dignity and the respect one hopes for in elder care. Her family and friends will miss her very much. Survivors include Son, Mark (Abbie) of Summit, NJ, Grandchildren, Madison, Jack and Clayton and Niece, Vikki Henkle (Rob) and Nephews, Todd and Nick (Jodi) Rittman, all of Indiana. Her Parents and Brother David are deceased. The funeral will be conducted at 12 noon, Saturday, December 1st, 2018, at Garland Brook Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel with Pastor John Armstrong officiating. There will be a short visitation before the service beginning at 11:30 a.m. until service time. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery. If so moved, in lieu of flowers please consider a donation in her memory to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana. Contact details available from The Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home (812) 372-9923 who has been entrusted with the arrangements.