Sister Janet Griffin, CDP
October 9, 1937 – October 1, 2019
Sister Janet Griffin, CDP, entered eternal life on October 1, 2019, at the age of 81. She was the eighth child born to Richard Leroy and Clara Mae (Miesch) Griffin. Sister Janet was born October 9, 1937 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She answered God’s call to become a Sister of Divine Providence on September 6, 1955 and professed first vows on June 22, 1958. Sister Janet enjoyed her life ministry as a talented teacher, a university professor, a social justice writer and speaker.
Sister Janet was a professor at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) for 40 years and served as Head of the Department of History. She taught Latin American and European history. She enjoyed preparing courses that promoted care of the environment, women’s rights, and feminism. She shared her writings that described CDP founder Father Moye and women religious as social activists and feminists. This was her way of working for reform through the system.
Sister Janet earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Our Lady of the Lake College, a Master of Arts in Latin American History and a Ph.D. in European Intellectual History from St. Louis University. She was a strict professor who came “alive” in the classroom. This earned her the reputation of being “fun.”
Sister Janet was extremely proud of her awards and recognitions. To name a few, in 1979 she was recognized as Outstanding OLLU Faculty; in 1984-85 she became the prestigious Moody Professor for outstanding contribution to the academic program at OLLU. Later, she received the Yellow Rose of Texas award from the Women’s Business and Professional Organization. Despite these accolades, the most rewarding and unforgettable experience of her life came in 1997. She traveled to Ghana, West Africa to visit her dear friend, Sister Frances Lorene Lange, and volunteered to teach religion, history and typing to high school students. Nothing prepared her for this experience that expanded outside of the classroom. She admired the people and students she met in Ghana and said “she met the challenge of teaching in a different culture. I am a better person for it.”
Sister Janet loved her life-long ministry at OLLU, her college students and fellow faculty and staff, and of course, her Sisters of Divine Providence. This love nourished her life. Her life nourished theirs.
She is survived by her siblings Helen Beardsley, Marjorie (Mickey) Epperson, Mary Jo Leport and John (Jack) Griffin, and all her Sisters of Divine Providence. She is also survived by 29 nieces and nephews, and more than five grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Clara Griffin, brothers (and spouses) Richard (and Helen) Griffin and Tommy (and Pat) Griffin; brothers in law Walter Beardsly, Billy Epperson, Lou Leport; sister in law Vera Griffin; great-aunts Sister Raphael Miesch, CPD, and Sister Angelina Miesch, CDP, and cousin Sister Katherine Ann Hays.
The Rosary will be recited Thursday, October 3, 2019, at 4:00p.m. and the Wake will be at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Resurrection will be Friday, October 4, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. All services will be in Annunciation Chapel at Our Lady of the Lake Convent Center.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a memorial contribution to the Sisters of Divine Providence, 515 S.W. 24th Street, San Antonio, TX 78207-4619.
Obituary (pdf)