Jane “Anne St. Henry” McAndrews
Sister Jane McAndrews, SNDdeN was born in December 1932 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston and grew up in a loving family with four sisters and one brother. From grades 1-12, she attended St. Gregory’s primary and secondary schools, which were staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. In a Dorchester neighborhood near St. Gregory’s, Sister Jane would meet her dearest friend Anne Stapleton, who also became an SNDdeN. They remained forever friends. Her only other contact with religious sisters was an aunt, a Sister of Charity of Convent Station, New Jersey, who came to visit every summer for 10 days. She never became attracted to this order and was not particularly fond of their habit!
A young Sister Jane
When Sister Jane was in fifth grade, her older sibling, Sister Ann Marie McAndrews, entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Soon after, Sister Jane also felt called. From Grade 7 on, she felt particularly drawn to SNDdeN. She wanted to be a teacher and someday a missionary. She learned a lot about the spirit of St. Julie, and most of all, she loved the Sisters who taught her.
“My parents always encouraged us to follow our dreams and supported us in our decisions,” says Sister Jane.
She entered Notre Dame on August 1, 1951, and made her profession of vows in 1954. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from Emmanuel College, Sister Jane taught first and fourth grades in Boston, New Hampshire and Lawrence for 17 years. Next, she attended Fairfield University, where she received a master’s degree in Religious Studies. As a Religious Education coordinator, Sister Jane worked in Lawrence, Weymouth and Boston. While Sister Jane was a religious education coordinator, she was also engaged in Notre Dame formation ministry.
In 1985, Sister Jane had the extraordinary opportunity to mission to Kenya and in 1988 to Sudan. The second part of her vocational dream was fulfilled. Her ministry in both countries varied from parish work, teaching, Notre Dame formation work and refugee assistance programs. In 1997, she returned home.
In 1998, Sister Jane began ministering at the Notre Dame Education Center in South Boston. As a teacher working with immigrants, she prepared people for citizenship. In 2009, she began a new ministry role as a coordinator at our Notre Dame Health Care Center in Worcester. Because of health issues, she retired from this ministry in June 2018.
Sister Jane greets a familiar face at the Worcester Long Term Care Center Jubilee in 2026.
“I have loved every place, work and situation that I have been involved in,” she shares. “All my dreams of becoming an SND have been fulfilled. I have lived a wonderful life and have never regretted my choice of vocation. People have taught me more than I ever learned from books. I am grateful for the many and varied experiences I have had as a Sister of Notre Dame. God is GOOD.”
In 2026, Sister Jane celebrated her 75th Jubilee as a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur. Now a member of the Notre Dame de Namur community in Worcester, Mass., she loves to sew, be creative, read, exercise, and, of course, spend time in quiet prayer and reflection. She has also dedicated herself to the ministry of companionship.
She said, “I’m especially happy for the interactions I can have with the lay people who live here. Some don’t have any visitors, and they’re lonely. Every place I’ve lived, I’ve found community at home with the Sisters and in the neighborhood.”
Updated in 2026