Janice M. Hinsdale

Janice M. Hinsdale

September 8, 1923 – November 9, 2020

Janice Mary Hinsdale, age 97, of Monroe, MI, formerly of Westchester, IL, entered Eternal Life on Monday, November 9, 2020. Born September 8, 1923 in Chicago, IL, Janice was the second daughter of James Joseph and Anna Frances (Donahue) Gorman.  She attended St. Frances of Rome elementary school in Cicero, IL and Providence High School in Chicago.  After high school she was employed as a secretary for the Inland Steel Co.

On June 15, 1946 Janice married Benjamin “Benny” Hinsdale.  Benny and Janice lived with her widowed mother and four sisters in Oak Park, IL while Benny pursued his B.S. at Loyola University Chicago on the G.I. Bill.  They lived briefly in Chicago, then, Bellwood, IL, finally settling in Westchester, IL. Benny, who was Director of Shareholder Relations at Sears Roebuck, preceded Janice in death on February 23, 1995. Together they had eleven children, including a set of triplets.

Despite being the mother of a large family, Janice was an inveterate volunteer. She was actively engaged in her parish, Divine Infant Jesus, Westchester, IL, doing publicity for parish events, starting a pre-school religion program (one quarter of the students were from her own family!), and performing in parish musicals. She served as a communion minister at Loyola University Medical Center, and as a hospice volunteer. One of Janice’s special loves was the SPRED program sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago which provided religious education for disabled children and adults. Every year she organized the “Tootsie Roll” drive which insured support from the Knights of Columbus for the intellectually disabled . Janice and Patricia Tyrrell were a duo who performed music ministry at the parish. Janice played the guitar and sang for weddings (including those of her former students), funerals, and many family occasions.  Janice was an Associate of the IHM Sisters, a member of the Women’s Guild of Divine Infant Jesus Parish, and a member of Third Order of the Franciscans.

Janice was an enthusiastic seeker of knowledge.  Over the years she completed credits in computer training, the history of philosophy, American Sign Language, and an archeological dig in Kampsville, IL, all of which were accepted toward her B.A. in Religious Studies which was awarded from De Paul University in Chicago in 1978. She had started working in the social studies resource center at Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, IL in 1974, but now, with degree in hand (and the children all in school) she was hired as a full-time religion teacher. Janice would go on to earn her M.A. in Religious Studies in 1986 from Chicago’s Mundelein College. She taught Scripture, World Religions and the Marriage Course until her retirement in 1990.  She enjoyed writing short pieces for the Chicago Tribune and traveling with her children and friends, to Hawaii, Italy, Israel, and many joyful trips to Ireland.

Janice is survived by her children, Sr. Mary Ann Hinsdale, IHM, of Massachusetts, James (Elizabeth) Hinsdale MD of California, William (Norma) Hinsdale of Illinois, Timothy Hinsdale of Illinois, Joan B. Hinsdale of Illinois, Therese (Lee) Block of Illinois, Michael (Moira) Hinsdale of Illinois, Matthew (Nancy) Hinsdale of Illinois, John (Margaret) Hinsdale of New Jersey, her sister, Judith Brown of Illinois; 26 cherished grandchildren, 14 delightful great-grandchildren; 18 loyal nieces and nephews, devoted cousins, and countless, faithful friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, Thomas (Carolyn) Hinsdale; daughter, Margaret Hinsdale (Alan) Pometta; and three sisters Jacqueline Gorman, June (John) Gibson, and Jeannine (John) Malecki.

A funeral Mass will be held December 4, 2020 at 10:00AM at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel, 610 West Elm Ave. Monroe, MI 48162. Attendance is limited due to COVID restrictions, but the funeral will be livestreamed.  Please contact: mhinsdale@comcast.net for the link. A memorial Mass will be held at a later date at her parish, Mary, Mother of Divine Grace (formerly known as “Divine Infant”) in Westchester, IL. Burial will take place at Graceland Cemetery Chicago, IL.

The Hinsdale Family would like to thank everyone in the IHM Senior Living Community, the Sisters and the lay residents, nurses, CNAs, and the pastoral care staff, for all the love, support, and care that they gave to Janice for the last seven years.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be may to the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162

Words of inspiration and comfort may be sent to www.ruppfuneralhomeinc.com