Sr. Jean Laubacher, IHM, 98, died Friday, Jan. 7, at her home, the IHM Motherhouse.
Sister Jean was one of seven children, four boys and three girls of Herman and Margaret (Keffler) Laubacher. Born on Feb. 26, 1923 in Canton, Ohio, she was baptized Jean Eileen. The children attended St. Joseph Elementary Schools in Canton and Maximo, Ohio. Jean graduated from St. John the Baptist High School (Canton). She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe in 1941, receiving the religious name Sister Eymarda. This year celebrates her 80th Jubilee as an IHM Sister.
Sister Jean earned a bachelor’s degree at Marygrove College and a masters’ degree from Wayne State University (Detroit), as well as teaching certification in Michigan, Florida and the Archdiocese of Miami. She taught in formal education for 50-plus years at St. Hugo, Bloomfield Hills; St. Francis de Sales, Holy Redeemer, and Our Lady of Good Counsel, Detroit; St. John, Fenton; St. Mary, Mt. Morris; St. Michael, Monroe; and Holy Name, Birmingham. In 1966, she led St. Joseph Elementary School (Trenton) as principal until 1973. Sister Jean was missioned to Nativity School in Hollywood, Florida in 1977, where she ministered for almost twenty years as teacher, assistant administrator, and administrator.
Truly a life-long learner, Sister Jean was a trained volunteer with Broward County Hospice Care, Special Minister of the Eucharist, and pursued many continuing education courses in Catholic Solidarity and professional development in teaching.
After a year at St. Catherine Parish in Sebring as a pastoral volunteer, Sister Jean retired to the IHM Motherhouse in 1997, sharing her time as a volunteer driver and companion to her sisters in community. She was always happy to help and often shared kind words and expressed gratitude to those around her.
Survived by nieces and nephews; preceded in death by sisters, Sister Mary Laubacher, IHM, and Olivia Kintz and brothers, Edward, Thomas, Bernard and Joseph.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, services will be private at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel on Monday, Jan. 17. Welcoming of the Body begins at 9 a.m., followed by a Remembering and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. The services will be Livestreamed beginning at 10 a.m. and may be viewed until Feb. 7, 2022. Arrangements are under the direction of Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162-7909.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
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