Sr. Janice Soleau, IHM, 86, died Monday, Nov. 14 at Mercy Memorial Hospital while under the care of Mercy Memorial Hospice. She was 86 and had served in religious life for 68 years.
She was one of three girls of Doras and Martha (McCormick) Soleau. She was born June 1, 1925, in Monroe and given the name Mary Janice. She attended St. John Elementary School and graduated from St. Mary Academy in Monroe. She became a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe in 1943.
Sr. Soleau earned a bachelor’s degree from Marygrove College and her master’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. She taught in formal education for 22 years at Gesu, St. Francis de Sales and St. Cecilia, Detroit; St. Regis in Bloomfield Twp.; and St. Gerard Majella in Kirkwood, Mo. In 1951 Sister Soleau published a Mass book for children titled Our Sacrifice.
In 1967 Sister Janice began ministry as vocation director and postulant director for a year at the IHM Motherhouse in Monroe and four more years as vocation director while living in Detroit. She headed the Speakers’ Committee for the St. Louis Archdiocesan Vocation Council for two years. She then began 11 years of campus ministry/counseling at Wayne State University in 1972. This was followed by 21 years of ministry at Marygrove College in Detroit as alumnae director and planned gift coordinator. Sr. Soleau retired in 2004, and while living in St. Clair Shores, volunteered at Epiphany Education Center, Marygrove College and with other organizations.
She is survived by her sister Donna and nieces and nephews. Beth Pardon, another sister, preceded her in death.
Visitation was to be held at the IHM Motherhouse, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 2 until 7 p.m., with a remembering service at 7 p.m. Sr. Soleau’s funeral Mass will be celebrated in the chapel on Friday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery on the Motherhouse Campus. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home, Monroe.
Memorials to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, 48162-7909.
