Jubilarian 2020 - Sister Jeanne Rene Mercier

Sister Jeanne Rene Mercier, baptized Genevieve, was born in Kingsford, Michigan. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1949 and was received into the novitiate in 1950.

Sister Jeanne Rene taught in the 1950s at St. Mary Magdalen Grade School in St. Louis; St. Catherine of Siena Grade School in Denver, Colorado; and Nativity of Our Lord Grade School in Chicago, Illinois. She taught at Holy Cross Grade School in Champaign, Illinois, from 1958-1962. In the 1960s, she also taught at Sacred Heart Grade School in Shawano, Wisconsin; Sacred Heart Grade School in Indianapolis, Indiana; and St. John Grade School in Ishpeming, Michigan. She continued teaching through the 1970s at St. Bede the Venerable Grade School in Chicago and St. Peter Grade School in Oconto, Wisconsin.

In 1976, Sister Jeanne Rene transitioned into pastoral ministry work. She was a parish visitor for St. Louis Parish in Englewood, Colorado, until 1978. For the next 29 years, she served at the St. Peter Cathedral Parish in Marquette, Michigan, as a parish minister to the sick and elderly (1978-1991) and a pastoral associate (1991-2007). During this time, from 1991 to 2003, Sister Jeanne Rene also served in pastoral care at Marquette General Hospital.

Sister Jeanne Rene retired to St. Louis in 2007. Since 2009, she has resided at Nazareth Living Center, carrying out her mission of prayer and presence.