Sister M. Janice Zwickl, CSC
(1922 - June 22, 2011)
Please, join in prayer of thanksgiving for this Sister of the Holy Cross who died on June 22, 2011 in Saint Mary's Convent.
Word has been received of the death of Sister M. Janice (Zwickl) who died at 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in Saint Mary’s Convent, Notre Dame, Indiana.
Quiet, reserved and unassuming are all adjectives that immediately spring to mind when speaking of Sister Janice. Even at a young age she recognized these qualities in her own personality when she described her elementary school experience. “Although I was a good student my school days were seldom a real joy for me because of my timid and reticent nature. The blessings of a sense of humor were a balance for my shyness and I enjoyed the pranks of the bolder students.”
The first few years of her ministry as a primary school teacher were happy even though she said of herself that she was not a strict disciplinarian but that she “managed all right.” The real joy in ministry came when Mother Verda Clare (Doran), the Midwest provincial at the time, asked her to learn Braille so she could teach in the Day School for the Blind Program at Most Holy Redeemer School in Evergreen Park, Illinois. After becoming certified through the special program at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., she tells of her experience, “The twelve years I spent teaching blind children were my very best and happiest. The children had such a joy of spirit and zest for living. Each day was a new adventure.” Not only were the days filled with adventure, there also were memories of incidents that tickled her sense of humor. Toward the end of the school year all the Braille textbooks were collected and because some were returned in less than pristine condition, Sister scolded the group causing one student to whisper, “She came in like a lamb, and she’s going out like a lion.” Understandably, Sister Janice had a hard time maintaining her serious demeanor. She loved her students and they idolized her, some of whom have remained close to her over the years.
After the special program for the blind was discontinued, Sister Janice was assigned to various schools in the Midwest where she served as librarian and/or tutor in whatever capacity was needed. Because of her loving nature she endeared herself to students, staff and parents wherever she served.
Sister Janice’s childhood was filled with prayer and devotion to the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe. Every day of her life she said a short prayer of consecration to Our Lady that she had been taught in elementary school.
Sister Janice was very devoted to her family and in 1977 she was grateful to receive permission to become a full-time caregiver for her invalid mother. At her mother’s death in 1981 she was devastated and told the sisters that she thought she would never smile again. The stress and strain of giving around-the-clock care took its toll but a gift she received from Sister Kathryn Callahan, then regional superior, changed everything. She was given a trip to the shrine of Guadalupe in Mexico. Knowing of her great devotion to Our Lady under this title her brother Michael remarked, “Just get her to the border and she’ll walk the rest of the way.” Because of the generosity of the congregation she instead flew to Mexico City where the Blessed Mother rewarded her loyal daughter with an inner peace that permeated all Sister Janice did the rest of her life. She now rests in peace.
Funeral arrangements for Sister are as follows: Reception of the body and wake on Thursday, June 23, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. with the Mass of Resurrection on Friday, June 24, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. All of these ceremonies will take place in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto.