Sister Jeanne Rene Mercier, CSJ

Pleasant, supportive, hospitalable, hard-working

On September 5, 1929, a second daughter, Genevieve "Jenny," the eighth of nine children, was born to Henry and Ida Mae (King) Mercier. Regrettably, two of their sons had died as infants. Just a year after their youngest daughter was born, their last son, Henry, arrived. Sister Jeanne Rene described her parents as “very religious … an inspiration and an example to all of us.”

When Jenny was 13, her mother, still in her 40s, died of cancer. About seven months later, her brother Arthur was killed in the Battle of Okinawa.

After attending Kingsford High School for two years, she and a friend had agreed to go to Saint Joseph Academy in Green Bay for the last two years. That fell through when her friend decided not to do that at the last minute. Her father wanted her to continue her education, so she eventually began to take correspondence classes.

About three years after her mother died, her father asked Jenny and her younger brother, who were the only ones left at home, their feelings about his getting married again. At first, they were not happy with the idea, but after receiving some advice from their aunt and guidance from the local priest, they told their dad to go ahead. Jenny lived with them for about two years after they married and realized that she was a wonderful woman.

When Jenny was 19, she made the decision to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph. She had met them when they came to teach religious education. And in fact, she spent a lot of time helping them, running errands and driving for them. She joined Pat Quinn from Marquette and Therese Chaperone from Big Bay on the train to St. Louis. On September 15, 1949, they saw Carondelet for the first time. Jenny remembers saying, “Oh my God, this is like a prison.” She was received into the novitiate on March 19, 1950, and was given the name Sister Jeanne Rene.

Her ministry began in a primary classroom at Saint Mary Magdalen in St. Louis (1952), followed by Saint Catherine, Denver, Colorado (1953); Nativity of our Lord, Chicago, Illinois (1956); Holy Cross, Champaign, Illinois (1958); Sacred Heart, Shawano, Wisconsin (1962); Sacred Heart, Indianapolis, Indiana (1964); Saint John, Ishpeming, Michigan, intermediate grades (1969) and primary at Saint Bede the Venerable, Chicago, Illinois (1971). Then Sister moved into religious education at Saint Peter in Oconto, Wisconsin (1975).

She had long wanted to be in pastoral care. That opportunity came the following year at Saint Louis Parish in Englewood, Colorado. Her caring ministry continued as with the sick and the elderly at St. Peter Cathedral Parish in Marquette, Michigan (1978), and Marquette General Hospital (1991-2003). That overlapped with being pastoral associate at Saint Peter’s (1991-2007). “I loved my work among the sick, the elderly, the homebound, people dying … ”S. Jeanne Rene said. “… The Spirit was always there with me even on jobs that weren’t … on my contract that I was asked to do.”

In 2007, she retired, choosing to live and volunteer at Carondelet. “When I came, it was like walking into heaven,” she said. “People were so friendly and easy to talk to and so welcoming. It was just awesome … I knew this was the place for me.” In 2009, she moved to Nazareth and began her ministry of prayer and presence.

I had the fortune of knowing S. Jeanne when she was living in McGovern Commons. She loved getting a massage! She was determined to get exercise and walked everyday as long as she could. Sister was very thoughtful and always concerned about her roommates. She was a sweet soul and I am so glad to have known her. –Associate Gerry Rauch

By Sister Helen Oates