"Cast your care upon the Lord and He will support you."
- St. Francis de Sales
All are welcome to remember the life of Sister Jane de Chantal Smisek, VHM at a Memorial Mass on Tuesday, November 27 at 5 p.m. in the Sisters' Chapel at Visitation in Mendota Heights. The presider for the memorial Mass will be Fr. Spencer Howe.
Sister Jane de Chantal Smisek went, on October 9, to the God whom she had cherished all her life. She died gently, as she had lived. Marie Smisek, born January 13, 1923, grew up in Saint Paul, within a close family proud of its Czechoslovakian origins. She is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Marie Parkos Smisek and her sister Lorraine Greathouse. She is survived by her brother Robert, beloved nephews and nieces and the Visitation communities of Mendota Heights and Georgetown.
After Saint Luke's Elementary School, Marie attended John Marshall High School. She often spoke nostalgically of her years there, in an atmosphere characterized by strong ethnic diversity. Her teens were filled with many activities, especially dances, but not long after her graduation, she chose contemplative life. She entered the Visitation Monastery, located at that time on Fairmount Avenue, where she received the name of Jane de Chantal, after the Foundress of the Order. Sister made perpetual vows there in 1950.
Further studies through what was then the College of Saint Thomas culminated with a B.A. in social studies and an M.A. in guidance and counseling. But Sister's great love and special talent lay in the visual arts; for many years she chaired the Visitation School Art Department with her gentle spirit while sharing her love and appreciation of beauty. She challenged and guided students to pursue excellence as they developed their own artistic styles. She also established the Jean Ann Baker award, given to an outstanding art student each year. Her efforts contributed immensely to the display of creativity throughout the school with her own graceful calligraphy, floral displays, and bulletin boards celebrating the Church seasons. Sister enjoyed situating and teaching the fine arts within the larger context of humanities. She exhibited gentle strength as she promoted the Catholic identity of the school and encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Every Wednesday morning before classes, Sr. Jane led a decade of the rosary in the chapel with students; a practice still continuing at the school.
Sister transferred to the Georgetown Visitation Monastery in Washington, D.C. in December of 2013. The Mass of Christian Burial was offered there on October 19 where Sister is also interred.
"Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day.
Either He will shield you from suffering,
or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it."
- St. Francis de Sales
© 2018 Convent of the Visitation School
2455 Visitation Drive, Mendota Heights, MN 55120 • 651-683-1700
info@vischool.org