Sr. Cheryl Ann Grenier, SC, of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, died Oct. 13, 2019, at the age of 72 in Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility of the Sisters of Charity. Sister Cheryl Ann was born on Sept. 15, 1947 to Noble and Delores (Trost) Grenier in Detroit, Michigan. She was a Sister of Charity for 54 years.
Sister Cheryl Ann grew up in Detroit, a member of a large family; she attended St. Luke Grade School and St. Theresa High School, both in Detroit. She entered the Sisters of Charity on Sept. 8, 1965.
Sister Cheryl Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the College of Mount St. Joseph (Cincinnati) in 1973. Her ministries as a Sister of Charity spanned 40 years and included service in the preschool and primary grade classroom, music education, children’s sacramental preparation, pastoral ministry and parish music. She planted the joy of music in many children’s hearts over the years.
Sister Cheryl Ann ministered in the dioceses of Cleveland and Cincinnati in Ohio, Denver, Colorado, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Gaylord and Lansing in Michigan. She began serving at Holy Name, Cleveland in 1969 as a primary teacher for three years and returned as a preschool teacher (1977-’82). She offered her services at Margery Reed Day Care Center in Denver (1973-’75). Sister Cheryl Ann prepared young children for the sacraments in parish religious education at Holy Trinity, Westminster, Colorado (1975-’77) and then served as director of music at St. Hilary, Akron, Ohio (1982-’84). She returned to preschool teaching at St. Mary, Albuquerque, New Mexico (1984-’87) and St. Ignatius, Rogers City, Michigan (1987-’90) before becoming the pastoral minister at St. Michael, Sutton Bay, Michigan (1990-’93).
For the next 10 years Sister Cheryl Ann was part of building a new parish community at St. Martha, Okemos, Michigan, both school and church; it was a community effort including a core group of Sisters of Charity that gave it life and energy. Sister Cheryl Ann taught first grade and preschool and worked with the music education and children’s choir, preparing children’s liturgies and school-wide musical presentations. It was a labor of love. In 2003 she provided service at Holy Family Regional, Rochester Hills, Michigan, as a primary grade music teacher and cared for her elderly mother until her death. In 2005 she volunteered at Villa San Bernardo, Bedford, Ohio, serving the Sisters there until 2009. When Sister Cheryl Ann returned to Cincinnati she lived at Santa Maria House and offered her services as needed. She faced recurring bouts of cancer, but continued to contribute to community life with her gift of music. She directed the Motherhouse chime choir bringing joy to special gatherings and used mime and clowning to entertain Sisters in Mother Margaret Hall.
At the time of her Golden Jubilee S. Cheryl Ann shared, “I see that religious life is not just a collection of women with one vision or fulfilling a job in a ministry within the Church; rather, it has been a deeply shared faith relationship that commits me in community to be a Sister to all, to help bring about the coming of the Kingdom. I have been blessed by the lives of my Sisters who have helped me where I am in my life.” She moved to Mother Margaret Hall as a resident in 2017 serving in the Ministry of Prayer.
Her friend, Sister Marie Pauline Skalski, remembers, “Cheryl had many gifts and talents that she shared freely. I first came to know her when we were starting St. Martha School. In particular, I admired her kindness and willingness to help anyone who came to the convent door in need of help or a kind word. She always had a big heart for those in need.”
Sister Cheryl Ann is survived by her brothers Marvin, Jack, Louis, Charles, and Robert as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters Carol Grenier, Mary Grace O’Leary and Ann Grenier.
Sisters and family will greet visitors in the Heritage Room of the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse in Cincinnati from 1:30–3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 3 p.m. in the Motherhouse chapel. Sister Cheryl Ann has chosen viewing as well as cremation. Her burial in the Sisters of Charity cemetery will occur at a later date.
Memorials can be made in Sister Cheryl Ann Grenier’s name to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Retirement Fund, 5900 Delhi Rd., Mount St. Joseph, Ohio 45051.
