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(1930-2023)
Sister Janet Persyk, formerly known as Sister Mary Paulette, died on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 93 years of age and in the 75th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.
Sister Janet was born in Detroit to Peter and Alice (Tate) Persyk. She graduated from Dominican High School in Detroit and received a bachelor’s degree in history from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a master’s degree in library science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Sister Janet ministered in education for more than 21 years in Detroit, Lansing, Ruth, Port Huron, and Owosso, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; and St. Charles, Illinois. This includes serving as a librarian for six years at two Adrian Dominican-sponsored institutions: Dominican High School in Detroit and Mount St. Mary Academy in St. Charles. Sister Janet also ministered for 27 years as a hospital chaplain in Chicago, Detroit, and Adrian and nine years as a hospice volunteer in Warren, Michigan.
Sister Janet was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by loving family members and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Visitation will be held from 6:30-7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 24, 2023, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, July 24, 2023, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery.
Those who are not attending services in person are welcome to participate via live stream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.
Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)
Sister Janet's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, you may choose to download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download." Worship Aid (PDF)
Sister Janet's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, you may choose to download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download." Worship Aid (PDF)
Left: Sister Janet’s parents, Peter and Alice Persyk; Center: Baby Janet Mae Persyk; Right: The future Sisters Janet Persyk (front row, first from left) and Celestine Dunne (front row, third from left) pose with their 1937 First Communion Class of Visitation School in Detroit.
Left: Janet Persyk in her second-grade Visitation photo; Left Center: Sister Janet Persyk; Right Center: From left, Sisters Mary Paulette (Janet) Persyk and Lawrence Christine (Theresa) Nightingale; Right: Sister Janet Persyk
Left: Sister Janet stands behind Co-workers Teresa Horn (left) and Associate Arlene Bachanov.; Right: From left, Sisters Janet Persyk and Sheila Flynn
Members of the 2017 Double-Diamond Jubilee December Reception Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Shirley Mary Heymes, Patricia Siemen (Prioress), Jeanne Burns, Shirley Thielk, Mary Saynay, and Marcine Klemm, and front row, from left, Sisters Theresa Nightingale, Margaret Lane, Kathleen Therese McCann, Janet Persyk, and Cyrilla Zarek.
Leave your comments and remembrances (if you don't see the comment box below, click on the "Read More" link).
Sister Mary Paulette — My first grade teacher (1956) at Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Ruth, MI., who I remember so well and so fondly. She was the ideal calm, loving, happy teacher to introduce young children to the world of learning. I have vivid memories of being in the classroom with her. 💕 There weren’t enough desks for all the first graders that year so some of us were selected to use child-sized chairs throughout the day. When we had to write, we knelt down in front of our chair and used its seat for a writing surface. I felt so incredibly special to use one of those chairs. Just one of many lasting memories.
Our Adrian Dominican cemetery with its circular headstones is a beautiful place of rest for women who gave their lives in service to God — and a peaceful place for contemplation and remembrance.
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