(1934-2025)

Although she was baptized as Theresa Patricia, the Kubiak family always called their youngest child Janet, and a legal name change as an adult made it official.

Janet was born in Detroit on October 23, 1934, to Frank and Clara (Fitch) Kubiak, the last of nine children born to the couple. Her five brothers and three sisters were George, Stanley, John, Frank, Thomas, Marion, Cecilia, and Verna.

Frank made headlines in the Detroit Free Press and other newspapers in 1942 thanks to a miraculous restoration of his eyesight. In 1913, an accidental shotgun blast to the face left him blind in his right eye. Then, several months before Janet’s birth, while at his job at the Briggs Manufacturing plant in the Detroit enclave of Highland Park, shards of steel pierced his left eye and blinded it as well despite multiple surgeries to try and save his sight.

But then, in May 1942, his son John was guiding him home from church and the pair were crossing the street when a car approached. John pulled his father toward the curb and Frank tripped, landing on his hands and knees – and suddenly could see dimly with his left eye. Over the next few days, vision in that eye continued to improve … and he could finally see his youngest child for the first time. The only explanation doctors could give was that perhaps the fall had jarred a piece of steel loose or had released pressure on the optic nerve.

The family lived right by Holy Name Church, on Detroit’s east side, and Janet attended the parish school, which was staffed by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. “I would often walk to and from school with one of the Sisters as they walked by our house (going to or from the convent),” she wrote in her autobiography. 

Read more about Sister Janet (PDF)

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.

Recording of Sister Janet's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Janet's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

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