Miriam Jansen
Saint Louis | Save
Sister Miriam Jansen (St. Louis, MO) was admitted to St. Louis University SSM Hospital suffering from pneumonia on June 12, 2025 and passed away peacefully the morning of June 25, 2025.
She was the daughter of Victor and Rose (Vonnahmen) Jansen. She and her twin sister, Alice attended St. Mary’s Grade School and then graduated from Marquette Catholic High School, Alton, IL in 1957. She entered the community of the School Sisters of Notre Dame on August 29, 1957. She professed final vows on July 30, 1965.
Sister Miriam began her long educational career by teaching primary children at Holy Rosary School, Houma, LA and Sacred Heart, Rich Fountain, MO. She taught intermediate grades at St. Martin, Jefferson City, MO; St. Augustine, Breese, IL and Immaculate Conception, West Alton, MO. In 1972, she was appointed superintendent of schools in the Jefferson City, MO diocese – the first woman appointed to this position.
In 1979, she was elected provincial leader of the former St. Louis Province and served until 1987. During that time the General Council asked her to co-lead a two-year international seminar focused on the congregation’s ministry directed toward education.
In 1988 following a year of study at Harvard University, she was a consultant for Global Education Associates in New York. From 1989-92 she served as curriculum director for the newly established Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School in East St. Louis, IL. In 1992, she became director of international programs at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (now Notre Dame of Maryland University) in Baltimore, MD. She served in this position for 19 years.
After leaving higher education she continued educational consulting work, within and beyond SSND, including as a presenter at the SSND Global Education Commission gathering in Rome in early 2025. She participated in developing new models for ministry sponsorship for the Central Pacific and Atlantic Midwest SSND provinces and mentored leaders of SSND educational ministries. After thirty-two years of ministry in the Atlantic-Midwest Province, Sister Miriam moved “home” to the Midwest in August of 2024.
Sister Miriam received a bachelor’s degree in speech from the former Notre Dame College, St. Louis, MO in 1962; a master’s degree in education from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, in 1974 and a master’s degree focusing on global education from Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1989.
Sister Miriam was an outstanding educator, leader, organizer and deeply committed to Catholic education. She touched lives around the world and inspired many by her kindness and gentle strength, her love for her twin and family, her SSND family and her international students and colleagues.
May she now rest in the arms of the God she served so faithfully for 66 years.
Sister Miriam is survived by her twin sister Alice (Bob) Reinecke. Dear aunt to Ann (Chris) Munier, Bill (Gari) Reed, Mary (Paul) Rickard, Barb (Dave) Kupiec, Patrick (Mayrisa) Reed, and Jenny Reed (John) Berglund, seven great nieces and one great nephew and her sisters in the international SSND community.
Services: Family, friends, and her sisters in community will gather at Sancta Maria in Ripa Chapel, 320 East Ripa Ave, St. Louis, MO 63125 on Wednesday, July 23 at 10 with sharing of memories at 10:30 followed by a mass of Resurrection at 11:15 The celebration will be livestreamed at https://www.ssndcp.org/live/smr. Interment Sancta Maria Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Elias, Kallal, and Schaaf Funeral Home in Godfrey are in charge of local arrangements.
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
