Age 84
Sister Janice Marie Johnson was a Sister of Mercy for 67 years. Sister Janice Marie was a tireless advocate for persons with disabilities, a well-known fundraiser in the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a former special education teacher and principal.
Sister Janice worked most recently as a Major Gifts Officer for the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania. Before that, she spent most of her 66 years as a Sister of Mercy, serving in various ministries in the Diocese of Allentown. She worked in stewardship and development, calling on donors to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. She was the director of the Office for the Ministry of Persons with Disabilities. Sister Janice was a former supervisor of special education, and for 16 years, she served as principal of the Mercy School for Special Learning. Her work in special education also extended to working with infants diagnosed with disabilities. She was a former assistant director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Previously, Sister Janice was a special education teacher at St. Katherine Day School in Philadelphia. She had several elementary teaching roles in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Allentown and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Over the course of her ministerial career, she served on numerous committees and advisory boards related to persons with disabilities and special education. She was the recipient of several related awards and a past honoree at the Catholic Charities Gala of Allentown.