Jeanne Marie Girsch was born on July 31, the Feast Day of St. Ignatius, in Chicago, Illinois, to Joseph Anthony Girsch and Althea A. Girsch (nee Egan). The eldest of five daughters, she graduated from Aquinas High School in Chicago and attended Siena Heights College in Adrian, Michigan. Inspired by her grandmother’s great faith, Jeanne learned to pray and serve, and at the age of 15, became a Dominican nun, teaching third, fourth and fifth grade in parochial schools in Northern Illinois.
At the age of 20, Jeanne heard God’s call to see beyond the immediate church and be Christ in the world. She left the Order yet continued to work in Catholic schools as a lay teacher. She married, and the couple adopted four children. Jeanne was a woman of incredible strength and faith that grew through experience. After becoming a single parent, she moved her family to Allen, TX, and began working at Electronic Data Systems. Allen did not have a Catholic church at the time and, in 1980, Jeanne, along with 50 local families petitioned the Dioceses of Dallas for a Catholic church to be built in Allen. In 1981, St. Jude masses were held at Rountree Elementary, and the building of the church was completed in 1984. Jeanne was actively involved in her new parish, and in 1985, was hired as the parish’s administrative assistant.
In her new position, Jeanne recognized the endless possibilities of how her parish could impact the community and those in need. Anyone who walked through the doors of St. Jude was greeted with a smile from Jeanne, whatever their need, she would say, “c’mon, we’re going to do this!”. In addition to her pastoral and office duties, she initiated numerous ministries at St. Jude including a monthly senior citizen luncheon, the AMA Food Pantry, the Giving Tree, moderated the grief support group, and led her weekly St. Ignatius Book Study. She was board president of Allen Community Outreach, board member for Life Path, served as St. Jude’s representative for Samaritan Inn and visited nursing home residents at Victoria Gardens every Friday. Jeanne readied herself every day by spending time in prayer, reading scripture, journaling, and participating in mass at least 5 days a week. She attended spirituality classes at Jesuit Montserrat Retreat Center in Dallas and went yearly to an eight-day retreat in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. She toured Spain, Rome, the Holy Land and went to villages in Honduras that were damaged by a hurricane to help rebuild. In her limited spare time, she enjoyed watching PBS, EWTN, listening to classical music, visiting friends and family, and was known to enjoy a margarita at Jalapenos.
Before her death, the wonderful friends who visited, along with the compassionate caregivers at Gracious Living Fountain Gate, gifted peace, comfort, and humanity to Jeanne. Jeanne passed into God’s loving arms surrounded by her family. Jeanne is survived by her sons, David Merica of Melissa, TX; Larry Merica of Richardson, TX; daughter, Sandra Jeanne DeWeese of Carrollton, TX; grandchildren, Lauren Merica, Christy Contreras, Bryan Merica, Carl Merica, Casey DeWeese; great grandchildren, Deliah, Aidan, Carl Jr and Christian; sisters, JoAnne Kozik of Lawton, OK and Georgeanne Van of Lowell, IN, and many other loving family and friends. She was predeceased by her daughter, Carol Ann Kelley; sisters, Althea Soltis and Megan McCadden and parents, Joseph and Althea Girsch.
A funeral mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 28, 2023 at St. Jude Catholic Church 1515 North Greenville Ave, Allen, Texas 75002 followed by a committal in the St. Jude Columbarium. A Reception will immediately follow the committal in the Parish Hall. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, 2023 St. Jude Catholic Church. A Rosary will follow from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the same location.
In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the AMA Food Pantry or Catholic Charities. For more information, please contact Rose Tuck in the St. Jude Business Office at 972-727-1177 ext. 2212.