Sister Janet Ryan, IHM, age 82, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, surrounded by her IHM family in Monroe. Sister Janet celebrated her 60th IHM Jubilee in 2022, a calling for which she remained grateful throughout her life.
Janet Ann Ryan was born to Rita Marie (Cameron) and Martin James Ryan in Port Huron, Michigan, on March 21, 1943. Their loving family of Irish heritage included four children. Janet attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School and graduated from St. Stephen High School. In September 1961, she entered Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe and received the religious name Sister Ann Rita. She received her bachelor’s degree in administration from Marygrove College in 1966 and her master’s degree in religious education from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, in 1973.
Sister Janet loved hospital ministry, which she started in 1976 as a chaplain and as an ACPE-certified supervisor. Sister Janet had experience as an educator, administrator and program planner in her positions as an elementary teacher, a religious education director and a pastoral minister. Janet was a true woman of the Gospel, professional, creative and a conscientious worker in everything she did.
In 2024, Sister Janet decided to relocate to the Motherhouse after retiring from pastoral ministry. Not one of idle hands, she learned the lay of the land, renewed and gained friendships, and busied herself as a member of several different committees. Only recently did she step away from her daily tasks when her health advised her to slow down. She did everything with a characteristic twinkle in her eye and a genuine kindness that inspired the many who knew her.
Sister Janet is survived by her siblings, brother Martin Ryan and her sister Barbara Thibodeau. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Gary Ryan.
Read Sister Janet’s Remembering.