Sister Mary Jean Meier

Meier, Sister Mary Jean
85, of Los Angeles passed away on August 8, 2010. Meier, Sister Mary Jean, RSM - went home to our Lord in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 8, 2010, at the age of 85. Born Kathleen Marie, a native of Los Angeles, she was the younger of the two children of Louis Meier and Catherine Hickey Meier. After a year at Immaculate Heart College, Kathleen Marie entered the Sisters of Mercy in Burlingame, CA and professed her vows as Sister Mary Jean in January of 1946. She received a B.A. in Business Education from San Jose State University and an M.A. in School Administration from the University of San Francisco, and taught business classes at Catholic Girls High School, Los Angeles, and Mercy High School San Francisco for twelve years before becoming principal at Mercy High School, Burlingame from 1959-1962. Sister Mary Jean returned to Los Angeles as Coordinator for Elementary School Finance for the Archdiocese in 1971. She returned to ministry within the Sisters of Mercy in 1974 as Director of Education at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ., and a few years later she was asked to raise funds to build a skilled nursing unit at Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland.,CA. This role marked a dynamic, new phase in her life. In 1986, the then Archbishop Roger Mahony, invited Sister Mary Jean to return to service for Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Sister's amazing and tireless work began as Director of Development and culminated as Director of Special Services. Working with Cardinal Mahony, Sister's ministry included the early development of the thriving Catholic Education Foundation. "From teaching high school to supporting church ministry and leading pilgrimages, Sister Mary Jean demonstrated irrepressible energy," said Sister Judy Cannon, member of the Community Leadership Team of the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest. She cared about every person who passed through her life and endeared herself to many. Predeceased by her parents and brother, Vincent, she is survived by her nephews Patrick and John Meier, of Wisconsin, and a niece, Kathleen Meier Hornstein, of Minnesota, and her loving community of the Sisters of Mercy. To celebrate the faith-filled life of Sister Mary Jean Meier, Cardinal Roger Mahony will officiate at the Mass of the Christian burial at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 14, 2010, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Interment will be in the Mausoleum at the Cathedral. A reception will follow in the Cathedral Conference Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA, 94010, the Catholic Education Foundation or the Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for Priests, in care of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, 3424 Wilshire Blvd, 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010.