Sister Janet Teresa was born on July 19, 1935, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to parents Frank and Pearl (Verheyen) Muehlbauer. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1953 and was received into the novitiate in 1954 with the name Sister Marian Therese. She received a bachelor’s degree in history from Fontbonne College (now University) in St. Louis in 1963 and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Hawaii - West Oahu in Kapolei in 1970.

Sister Janet served 50 of her 68 years as a religious in education as a teacher. Beginning in 1956, her first two classroom assignments were in the St. Louis area at the primary level. She taught at St. Agnes School for two years, followed by St. Mary School in Bridgeton from 1958-65. She then taught for two years at St. Anthony School in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1967, Sister Janet moved to the islands of Hawaii — the start of what would be a two-part journey and 32-year-long ministry for her in the Diocese of Honolulu.

Part one of Sister Janet’s service in Hawaii lasted for 17 years. She taught in Honolulu at Holy Trinity School (1967-69) and at St. Theresa School (1969-70). From 1970-82, she taught at St. Joseph School in Waipahu on the island of Oahu. She finished the first portion of her work at St. Therese School, returning to the mainland in 1984.

Sister Janet returned to Missouri, teaching junior high for nearly 10 years in Kansas City at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (1984-92) and St. Elizabeth School (1992-93).

Sister Janet then returned to Honolulu and St. Theresa School, where she remained for the next 15 years.

While in Hawaii, she also taught religion classes to public school children, coached students for speech competitions and organized the speech club at St. Theresa’s. With the help of dedicated lay teachers, she led the students in monthly meetings to implement the National Catholic Educational Association’s Vision and Value program.

Sister Janet retired from the classroom and returned to St. Louis in 2008. She served her CSJ community as a hospitality associate for the St. Joseph Provincial House (2008-21) and as a volunteer at the Carondelet Literacy Center (2008-15).

She continued to volunteer where needed until moving to Nazareth Living Center at the beginning of November, just a couple of weeks before she died..

Sister Janet was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and looked forward to each new season.