Janet S. Steere, age 95, of Chelsea, formerly of Birmingham / Bloomfield Hills, died Monday, June 6, at Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born Jan. 22, 1921 in Mayfield, the daughter of Harry S. & Marion (Gibbs) Sargent.

Janet graduated from Traverse City High School in 1937 and earned her Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan in 1942. She lived at Martha Cook dorm for three years while at U of M, and was an active alumna, attending their 100 year anniversary last October, where she was the oldest alumna present. After graduating, Janet worked for the Michigan Children's Aid Society in Marquette. She raised her family while staying on the Board of the Children's Aid Society. She was active in the United Methodist Church in Birmingham and spent the last 15 years at Chelsea Retirement Community. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and very active in choirs throughout the years. Janet was a bird lover and enjoyed family vacations at Arbutus Lake. She was an avid reader and ran the CRC Book Club.

On Oct. 13, 1945, she married Robert W. Steere Jr. at the Highland Park Congregational Church and he preceded her in death on July 15, 2001.

Survivors include three daughters, Judith (Emil) Sunley, of Bethesda, Maryland, Mary (David) Budzinski, of Chelsea, and Beverly Aird, of Waterford; one son, Robert (Carol) Steere, of Springfield, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Rachel (Jeremy) Tyson, Gillian (Michael) Erdmann, Neil Sunley, Jamie Aird, Jason (Liza) Aird, Rebecca (John) Pazdziora, Emily (Daniel) Mosher, and Samuel (Elizabeth) Steere; 12 great-grandchildren; one sister, Edna Sargent, of Traverse City; and many nieces and nephews.

She was loved by her children and a caring friend to all she met.

A private burial will be at Forest Hills Cemetery in Ann Arbor. Memorial contributions may be made to UMRC Foundation.

Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea.