(1933-2026)

This evening, we pay tribute to a gentle woman with a warm, welcoming smile, with a twinkle in her eye, a woman of deep faith, a woman of vision, a scholar, an avid reader, a woman of many opinions and suggestions to help better our world and world view.

Sister Peggy Coyne, Adrian Crossroads Chapter Prioress, was speaking here of Sister Janice Scholl in her welcoming remarks for Sister Janice’s wake service. “Janice was a risk taker who embraced learning other cultures,” Sister Peggy continued. “Janice worked to transform the church and society, to seek the truth through her ministry of teaching. Most of all, Sister Janice loved her family and her Adrian Dominican Sisters, her cats, and the beauty of nature.”

Janice Elizabeth Scholl was born on September 2, 1933, in Chicago to Robert and Dorothy (Williams) Scholl. Her great-uncle was the “Dr. Scholl” of foot-care fame – “We called him ‘Uncle Doc,’” she said – and a cousin took over the business after him until it was sold.

She was the oldest of nine children, preceding Gail, Patricia, Bob, Dick, Sue, Peter, Diane and Gary. In her July 2018 “A Sister’s Story,” she referred to herself as being in “two families,” because she, Gail, and Patricia were close in age but then the next sibling, Bob, did not arrive until she was twelve years old.

The youngest children either were very young when she entered the convent, or had not even been born yet, so “some of them, they only knew me as ‘the nun,’” she said. And, she added, when she came for a home visit her younger siblings hated having “the nun” come because they had to be on their best behavior and the house had to be immaculate.

Janice was educated by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the BVM Sisters) at both St. Thomas of Canterbury School and Immaculata High School. As she neared her high school graduation in 1951, she knew she wanted to enter religious life and the BVMs were the only Sisters she knew. When she spoke with her father about her desire, however, he told her not yet, that she should get a job and date some more and they would talk about it again later.

Read more about Sister Janice (PDF)

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Services, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Recording of Sister Janice's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Janice's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by clicking on the three dots at the bottom right corner of the screen and choosing "Download." Worship Aid (PDF)

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