Sister Janet Rossiter, IHM: The Grace of Perseverance

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” Walter Elliot

IHMs pray for “The Grace of Perseverance.” In Sister Janet Rossiter I discovered a person who is an example of that “grace in action.”

Janet Rossiter is one of the “Brooklyn Girls”—IHMs who attended St. Ephrem’s School—recognized by their accent! Rossiter is the Americanization of the Irish, O’Rossiter. Janet attended St. Ephrem’s Grade School and Immaculata High School in New York City. She also did grocery shopping for the Sisters—giving her another opportunity to understand IHM community life.

Graduating Marywood in 1964, Janet’s first mission was in North Carolina. IHMs began to serve in North Carolina during the 1920s, a time when the South was segregated and racist. Perhaps it is cultural reality that the daughters of our biracial foundress, Theresa Maxis, who served in North Carolina, lived in separate locations and taught in schools with all black students and all white students. While sisters didn’t experience racism in school, if they attended activities sponsored by the “white schools,” they did experience racism. Janet said, however, that integration in the “black school” went fine! Her principal, Sister Redempta Sweeney, validated that description (though the late 60s included the Civil Rights Movement and the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy.) They were afraid of some reaction from the Ku Klux Klan but their only challenge was a fight on the playground, which Redempta sent Janet to resolve!

Janet then moved on to Port Washington, living with her bandmates Sisters Marie Moore and Angelique Vannicola. Sister Rosemaron, the principal, introduced the concept of “individualized instruction.” Janet was the first to implement it by quickly redesigning her classroom to individual seating comparable to library carrels. Janet admired the school librarian/library. She filled her classroom with books and pursued an MS in Library Science. Angelique recalls how full of life Janet was—engaging in a “drag race” or pinning up her habit and running and jumping over a bike rack. On a visit to NYC, Janet took an unexpected fall. That led her family to take her to a specialist and, at the age of 29, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and spent a short time in a wheelchair.

Now with MS Janet returned to North Carolina as both a teacher and principal. The ’76-’77 school year began with a school flood but, by the spring, the parish was having a farewell party because Janet’s MS had progressed too far for Janet to continue. As part of Janet’s farewell from NC, they funded a trip for her to Lourdes. Janet’ Miracle: Acceptance of her health limitations.

Janet returned to Port Washington to do small group work. Two years later she was hospitalized at St. Joseph’s in Carbondale. Then Janet began a series of support service ministries: the hospital’s business office; EEI; the Marywood Library; a clerical aide for the Lackawanna Housing Authority and a receptionist at the IHM Center.

Janet’s mobility struggles required a motorized chair. With a new found sense of freedom, she set off on a series of adventures. One day, during the winter, after a snowfall, I was driving to Marywood. Turning the corner onto Electric Street, I noticed a small orange neon flag attached to a pole that was attached to Janet’s motorized chair! Gloveless, she was taking herself to Monroe Avenue’s shopping center!

Janet moved to OLP as her dexterity weakened, and she needed to move to a regular wheelchair. Janet continues on—smiling, laughing and charming both the staff in her 1A household and the physical therapist in the LIFE program.

Janet not only perseveres; she’s determined and picks herself up and starts over again. She brings a whole new meaning to the word courage.