03/30/2006

Notification of Death - Janet Boyer Benfer

March 28, 2006

OFDA received word this morning that Mrs. Janet (Boyer) VanWormer Benfer, age 90, died Tuesday evening, March 28, 2006 at Kingston Care Center of Sylvania while she was surrounded by her family. Janet was the former owner of the Boyer-VanWormer-Scott Funeral Homes Inc., Toledo.

She married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth H. Van Wormer, on June 5, 1936. After being a homemaker for many years, she entered the funeral business that her father founded and her husband ran, taking over the operation after his death in 1964. She earned her funeral director's license in 1965, being among the few women to have one.

She was a former member of the Board of Trustees of Northwest Ohio Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, National Selected Morticians, which her father cofounded in 1917, and the National Funeral Directors Association.

Preceding her in death are her husbands, Kenneth Van Wormer and Wilson Benfer; her older sister, Patricia Boyer Kinsey and a step-granddaughter, Kathleen S. Clay. She is survived by her younger sister, Georgia Boyer Ansorge; her 3 children, Janice VanWormer (Bill) Godfrey, Lee Frederick (Nancy) Van Wormer, Dana Van Wormer (Tabb) Schreder; her 4 step-children, Patricia Benfer Clay, Judith Benfer (Pete) Price, Richard W. (Lois) Benfer and David W. (Mary) Benfer; 17 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call Thursday, March 30, from 7:00-9:00 PM and Friday, March 31, from 1:00-5:00 and 7:00-9:00 PM at the Boyer Van Wormer Scott Funeral Home, 5055 Secor Road (North of Laskey) where services will be held Saturday, April 1, at 11:00 AM. Interment in Historic Woodlawn Cemetery.