In Loving Memory
Sister Janet (Bernice) Lamirande, OSB, of St. Scholastica Monastery, died Monday, April 28, 2008, on Benet Hall at age 89. She entered the Duluth Benedictine Community September 9, 1935, and professed her monastic vows January 3, 1938. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1962, her Golden Jubilee in 1987, and her Diamond Jubilee in 1997.
Sister Janet was born July 10, 1918, in Cloquet, Minnesota, where she attended Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School until high school. In 1935 she graduated from Stanbrook Hall High School in Duluth and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from The College of St. Scholastica, where she majored in elementary education. Her mission assignments took her to teach at St. Clement’s and St. John’s in Duluth; to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Cloquet; St. Rose of Lima, Proctor; St. Francis, Brainerd; St. Thomas, International Falls; and to St. Bridget’s in Minneapolis. Sister Janet was one of the five founding Sisters who opened Our Lady of Victory School in Minneapolis in 1948. Out of state, she taught at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Phoenix, Arizona. Sister Janet was blessed with a wonderful sense of humor. She loved teaching and after many years in this ministry (1937-1979), she returned to the Monastery to work as a receptionist at the information desk and as an assistant at The College of St. Scholastica’s Music Library.
This was a natural for her for she had been involved with music from her very young years. In grade school she was the youngest person to play the organ in Cloquet where someone had to help her get up on the organ bench. At times when teaching at St. John’s in Duluth she brought her bell choir out to the Monastery to entertain the Sisters. On April 13, 2001, for health reasons, she was admitted to Benet Hall where she always expressed gratitude for the care given her. She loved her family, and they loved Sister Janet. Her brother Donald said at the wake that Sister Janet unfailingly sent him a birthday card every year—even though she always sent it to the wrong address.
Sister Janet was preceded in death by her parents, Peter John and Grace (Beaupre) Lamirande; two sisters, Marian Reed and Barbara Cook; and one brother, Jack. She is survived by the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery; three sisters, Loretta Brissett, Joan Smith, and LauraTangen; one brother, Donald Lamirande; and several nieces and nephews.
A wake service was held on Friday, May 2, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, St Scholastica Monastery, with visitation until 10:45. The Mass of Christian Burial followed at 11 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel with Father Blane Wasnie, OSB, presiding. Burial was in Gethsemane Cemetery.
MINISTRIES
Education Ministry
- St. Clement’s School, Duluth, MN
- St. John’s School, Duluth, MN
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, Cloquet, MN
- St. Rose of Lima School, Proctor, MN
- St. Francis School, Brainerd, MN
- St. Thomas School, International Falls, MN
- St. Bridget’s School, Minneapolis, MN
- Our Lady of Victory School, Minneapolis, MN
- St. Thomas the Apostle School, Phoenix, AZ
- Tutor at the Monastery Enrichment Center
Hospitality
- Monastery Information Desk
- Assistant at The College of St. Scholastica Music Library
Prayer Ministry