Jeanette Dryden, 64
Born: May 29, 1948
Died: Oct. 14, 2012

Jeanette Marie Dryden, 64, of East Geyer Road, Niles, died Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at Hospice House, South Bend, following an extended illness.

She was born May 29, 1948, in Detroit to Tom and Grace (Minahan) St. Denis.

Jeanette attended Frasier High School and Northern Michigan University. On Aug. 16, 1969, in Fraser, she married Dennis D. Dryden; he survives. She and her family moved to the Niles area in 1977, coming from Frankenmuth.

Jeanette was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, was a teacher for Sylvester Elementary School in Berrien Springs and volunteered helping the hearing impaired. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and reading mystery stories.

Survivors include husband, Dennis Dryden of Niles; sons, Matthew (Hope) Dryden of Mooresville, N.C., and Andrew (Amy) Dryden of Lombard, Ill.; grandchildren, Abigail, Jack, Grant and Aubrey.

Also surviving are siblings, Elizabeth Borek of Memphis, John Melvin of Fraser, Karen Grieves of Ionia, Joanne Baker of Roseville and Mary Fell of Marine City; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Joe Melvin.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Jeanette Marie Dryden will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Niles, with the Rev. David Otto of the parish officiating and will be concelebrated by both the Rev. William Melody, C.S.C., of Notre Dame, Ind., and Deacon Roger Gregorski of the Saint Mary Parish, Niles. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, and will conclude with a Rosary service at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jeanette may be made to Saint Mary Catholic School in Niles or to the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care in South Bend.