Janet “James Adele” Cahill (1932-2026)

Sister Janet returned home to her good God on January 31, 2026, at the age of 93, after 73 years as a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur.    

Sister Janet Cahill, SNDdeN grew up in a family of six. Her father was a traveling salesman and part-time football official, and while he was away, her mother held down the fort in the Philadelphia suburb where they lived. She appreciated her parents’ loving relationship, and always felt that they understood her.

Her first encounter with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur was in school at Notre Dame High School in Moylan, Pennsylvania. Janet’s neighbors and classmates were convinced that Janet would choose religious life because they saw her going into the local church so often. Little did they know that her visits there were to pray for the success of her basketball team!

Though she was small, Sister Janet was athletic—as was her whole family—and she used her trademark “left-handed crook” shot to great effect.

During her senior year of high school, the Notre Dame Moylan basketball team was undefeated and the champion of the Diocese of Philadelphia. Sister Janet vividly remembered playing in a big game at the municipal stadium in downtown Philadelphia and being surprised to see her father in the stands — he had interrupted his work trip to come see her.

Sister Janet had no particular interest in marrying or motherhood, and felt drawn to become a Sister. There were other religious congregations that she could have entered, but she particularly liked St. Julie’s plan to “… go where the need is greatest.”

She also did not want to be under the control of a local bishop.

Sister Janet decided to delay her entry for a year to “see the world,” but in 1952 did go to the novitiate in Ilchester, Maryland. She took her first vows in 1955 and her final vows in 1960. She adopted the name Sister James Adele in honor of her parents.

She missed her family terribly, but was grateful that even though her siblings had busy lives and children to care for, they were very good about visiting her.

At the time of her 50th Jubilee as a Sister, Sister Janet hosted a family reunion to thank them.

From 1955 to 2002, Sister Janet taught primary-grade students. She was missioned to parish schools in Queens, New York,  Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Decatur, Georgia, and Cheraw, South Carolina.

Throughout the years, she occasionally impressed her young students with her basketball skills.

Sister Janet at the 65th anniversary celebration for St. Camillus Parish, where she taught second grade in 1954.

In one of her early ministries, the convent’s Superior was very strict and formal, and Janet was quite unhappy when she learned that their regular recreation time would be spent weeding the garden!

At that same parish, the local people had very little money, so to cover the school fees for their children, they would slaughter cattle and pay in beef.

“We had filet mignon every night for supper!” said Sister Janet.

In 1988, Sister Janet began 26 years of ministry at St. Jerome School in Hyattsville, Maryland. She chose St. Jerome because it had been a Notre Dame school from its founding in 1944. “I wanted to end my teaching career in an SNDdeN school,” she explained. When her advancing age made it difficult to spend all day teaching in the classroom, Sister Janet shifted her focus to supporting students in small reading groups and working with preschoolers. She had many memories of events and contact from former students that made her feel that she was making a positive difference.

While at St. Jerome’s, Sister Janet had a strong impact on the children, community and staff. Her faith-based positive personality opened children’s and adults’ hearts to receive her message. Sister prepared children to receive the sacrament of First Communion for many years. She also implemented a home visit program, which she felt helped her get to know her students better and thus better direct her teaching plans for them. Sister Janet was highly respected in the Hyattsville community and definitely followed St. Julie’s path in spreading the message: “How good is the good God!”

Sister Janet Cahill in 2019, at the 75th anniversary celebration for St. Jerome Academy.

Reflecting on her varied experiences over the years, Sister Janet said, “God does not hurry up stuff. He takes a long time to have things work out, but when they do work out, there’s no taking back, and that’s how I feel about my Lord that I’ve served for 70 years.”

At the Notre Dame Long Term Care Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, she was an active participant in the activities offered for residents, and she watched CNN to know what’s happening in the world. She was a devoted fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and the Eagles, despite the teasing she received while living in Patriots country!

 

Updated in 2026