Missionary nurse Sister Janice Mengenhauser remembered for her compassion

Sister Janice Mengenhauser, who spent 20 years serving families in the Archdiocese of Omaha, is remembered by her fellow Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a loving, compassionate and wise listener.

The South Dakota native graduated from Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and then received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Louis University, where she specialized in third-world nursing. She continued her education at Loyola University in Chicago, where she received a Master of Pastoral Studies.

Sister Janice worked as a nurse in South Dakota and Montana before she moved to Chiapas, Mexico, where she served as a missionary nurse for eight years.

Upon her return to the United States, she served as the Director of Faith Formation for the Presentations Sisters and then moved to Omaha where she was a marriage and family specialist for the Archdiocese of Omaha’s former Family Life Office. During her two decades in the archdiocese, she conducted empowerment classes for Spanish-speaking women, marriage preparation classes for Hispanic couples and translated English language materials into Spanish.

Sister Janice died March 18 in Aberdeen. She was 87.

A funeral Mass was held April 4 at the Presentation Place Chapel in Aberdeen. Burial was at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Sister Janice was born Janice Rae Mengenhauser on August 18, 1936, in Ravinia, South Dakota, to Evelyn (Wagner) and Ted Mengenhauser. She entered the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary on February 1, 1956, and professed her vows on August 10, 1958.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, a sister and brother-in-law, and one sister-in-law. She is survived by the Presentation Sisters and two brothers, Jim Mengenhauser and Jack (Darla) Mengenhauser, one sister, Mary Jo (Dave) Hosbein, and nieces and nephews.