Sister Janet Rock (Sr. Mary Anthony), 97, of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, died at Our Lady of Providence Residential Home in Winooski, Vt., on February 17, 2025. Sr. Janet was born in Burlington, Vt., on October 19, 1927, the daughter of Nancy (Davis) Rock and Arthur Rock Sr. She was a graduate of Cathedral High School and Trinity College in Burlington.
Sister Janet entered the Sisters of Mercy on September 8, 1945, and professed her vows on April 28, 1948. She taught in elementary schools staffed by the Sisters of Mercy in the Diocese of Burlington: Cathedral Grammar, Christ the King and Mount St. Mary’s in Burlington; St. Monica’s in Barre; St. Michael’s in Montpelier; and St. Mary’s in Middlebury. Beginning in 1969, Sr. Janet taught at Mater Christi School and was appointed assistant principal from 1977 to 1995.
Sister retired from teaching in 1995 and served as facilities manager of Mount St. Mary Convent until 2005, when she retired. Even in retirement, she was active in her community, caring for and assisting other sisters and employees. She was an active participant in many activities and kept her eyes, ears, and heart open to what was going on in our Mercy community, among her family and friends, and in the greater Burlington community. Sister Janet was a faith-filled, prayerful woman who enjoyed life to the fullest. She will be remembered as an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, the New York Giants and the Mater Christi basketball teams. She also enjoyed playing cards; organizing the annual Super Bowl party; a yearly vacation at Watch Hill, R.I.; and an annual trip to Fenway Park. During her residency at Our Lady of Providence, she thoroughly enjoyed playing bingo and joking around with the staff.
She is survived by one sibling, Pauline Adams of Colchester, Vt.; her sisters-in-law, Maris Rock and Patricia Rock; many nieces and nephews; and her sisters in religion, the Sisters of Mercy. She was predeceased by her parents, Nancy (Davis) Rock and Arthur Rock Sr., and by siblings Frederick Rock, Theresa Gordon, Sister Monica Rock, Vernon Rock, Nancy Yandow, Mary Rita Yandow, Arthur Rock Jr, Jean Shover, Thomas Rock, James Rock and Carmelita Violette.
Our prayers and deepest gratitude to the caring staff at Our Lady of Providence, the University of Vermont hospice team and her doctors, for their loving care of Sister Janet.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 28, 2025, 11 a.m., in the Sacred Heart Chapel at Mater Christi School (former Mount St. Mary Convent), 100 Mansfield Ave., Burlington, VT, with visiting hours prior to the funeral mass, 10-10:50 a.m. Sister’s burial will take place at a later date, in the Mount Saint Mary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy in support of their ministerial works: Sisters of Mercy, Attn: Sister Laura Della Santa, 356 Mountain View Rd., Colchester, VT 05446.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral Home South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington.