Janet Hyams

Janet L. Hyams (Ratelle), age 83, passed away on August 8, 2024 at Nekoosa Court Assisted Living. Janet was born on June 26, 1941 to Donald and Marion (Turner) Ratelle in Wisconsin Rapids. She graduated from Lincoln High School. Janet went to the Humboldt Institute Airline Secretarial School in Minneapolis. While there, the FBI and CIA were recruiting. She was hired by the CIA and moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked decoding messages. She met her former husband (Robert Hyams) while living in D.C. They were married, moved to New York and were blessed with three children, Robert, Sandra and Patricia.
Janet returned to Wisconsin Rapids in the early '80s and procured a position working as a reservationist at Hotel Mead for 18 years until she retired. Janet loved to look to the sky for planes during the day and stars at night. She was involved with the Moravian Church and very much enjoyed bible studies and attending Diaspora. Janet had a heart of gold and showed kindness to everyone. While she was sometimes quiet, her quick wit and beautiful smile brought many others joy. Janet loved collecting teddy bears, watching figure skating, doing puzzles, and going to Dairy Queen. She enjoyed flowers, searching through clover to find four and sometimes five leaf clover, animals, birds and many of life's simple pleasures, but most of all, she loved spending time with her family. She was also a person of tremendous faith and will be dearly missed by all who loved her. Janet and her sister Marilyn who lived together could usually be found watching their beloved Brewers, attending church on Sundays, helping with church activities, shopping and attending luncheons with their friends and cousins.
Janet is survived by her daughters, Patricia Arena and Sandra (Chris) Kassas; two grandchildren Jeremy Hyams and Jacqueline (Eddie) DeLaurentis as well as five great-grandchildren, Jake and Ariana Hyams, Rocco, Leia and Olivia DeLaurentis. She is also survived by her beloved Marilyn Hutter; a niece Renee (Matt) Hutter-Barnes, nephew Kurt (Jennifer) Maier (children: Larissa and Evan); and nephews Chris (Shannon) Ratelle and Chad (Meg) Ratelle and other family.
Janet is predeceased by her beloved son, Robert Hyams; brother, Laurol Ratelle and son-in-law, Joseph Arena.
The family would like to thank the staff of Nekoosa Court Assisted Living, Compassus Hospice and family friend Jenny for the tremendous care that was given to Janet during the past several months. Words cannot express the gratitude of her daughters to know she was in a safe place and with caring people around her.
A private family burial will be held at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at the Moravian Church, 310 1st Avenue S., Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin on Sunday, August 18, 2024 at 12:00 noon. The Rev. Beth Rohn-Habhegger will officiate, all are welcome to participate. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Wisconsin Rapids Moravian church in her memory.
Herman-Taylor Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.