A memorial Mass for Sister Jane L. Rombach, FSM, was celebrated Sept. 22 at Mother of Good Counsel Home in Northwoods. Sister Jane of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary died on Sept. 3 at the age of 97.
Jane Lucille Rombach was born Aug. 15, 1928, in Washington, Missouri, with her twin brother Fred J. Rombach to Fred C. and Leona (Buddemeyer) Rombach. She also had two sisters. Her twin’s polio left his left leg paralyzed, and her interest in health care stemmed from those early years.
She entered the Sisters of St. Mary on March 19, 1948. She received the name Sister Ruth Marie, and she professed final vows on Feb. 11, 1955. (In 1987 the Sisters of St. Mary reunited with the Sisters of St. Francis of Maryville, Missouri, as the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.)
She earned a bachelor’s degree in medical records and library science (1959) and a master’s degree in social work (1970), both through Saint Louis University.
From 1951-59, Sister Jane worked as assistant medical records librarian at Firmin Desloge Hospital in St. Louis. From 1959-65, she served as director of medical records at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center and as an adjunct professor for Saint Louis University. She served for a few months at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin; she then was medical records librarian at St. Eugene Hospital in Dillon, South Carolina (1965-67). As a graduate student, she worked at Cardinal Ritter Institute, serving as a social service assistant (1967-68) and social worker (1970-83).
In 1983 she began serving as a medical social worker at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center and then went to part time in 1995. For two years (2007-09) she was a part-time licensed clinical social worker there. She volunteered in social services and the library at Cardinal Glennon for several years.
She loved ministering to families and children dealing with the impact of chronic illness. She participated as a lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion with Sunday liturgies at Cardinal Glennon, and she was a volunteer contact for the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation beginning in 1983. She enjoyed visiting with neighbors and loved researching her Jewish heritage, with special interest in the Rombach synagogue in Budapest, as well as sharing her life’s journey with her Franciscan Sisters of Mary.
“The highlight of my life with the Franciscan Sisters is living the Gospel and giving loving service to the sick and the poor,” she said. She was especially fond of working at Cardinal Glennon: “Everyone seems to be so kind and compassionate and friendly. It is a very beautiful place. It is just a joy to be here. I want to be active as long as I can. Glennon is in my heart.”
Sister Jane requested a green burial, which was held on Sept. 5.
