Sister Jan Futrell, OSB

Sister Jan Futrell, OSB, 89, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kan., died Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the monastery. The vigil service will be held on Sunday, August 18, at 7 p.m. in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated there Monday, August 19, at 10:30 a.m. 

Sister Jan was born to George and Martha Thiel Futrell on December 3, 1934, in Oklahoma City. After graduating from McGuinness High School there, she attended a year of college before entering the Benedictine sisters in Guthrie, Okla., in 1953. For 19 years, she taught in parish schools in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okeene, Okla. In 1968, Sister Jan was part of a group of sisters who founded the new community of Red Plains Monastery, first in Oklahoma City and later moving to Piedmont. In 1973, she participated in the Institute of Religious Formation at St. Louis University. A year later, she joined the staff and helped found a new international program called Focus on Leadership in Denver where she provided spiritual direction and retreats and trained others. When she returned to Oklahoma City in 1980, she helped found God+Center to provide spiritual direction training, which later evolved into the Red Plains Spirituality Center. Sister Jan also served as director of Renew for parishes in the archdiocese of Oklahoma City as well as spiritual formation director of the Pastoral Ministry Program. Eventually, she conducted spiritual renewal workshops in Africa, England, Ireland, Singapore, Canada and the United States along with her brother Father John Futrell, SJ. Sister Jan served as prioress of the Sisters of Benedict from 2002 to 2009, when the group merged with Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. She continued to provide spiritual direction for some years after she moved to Atchison. 

Sister Jan was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers George, James and Rev. John Futrell, SJ, and her sister, Sister Jeanne Marie, OCD. She is survived by nieces and nephews and her monastic family. Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home (www.beckerdyer.com) is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or made online at the Mount’s website.

Reflection for the Vigil of Jan Futrell

by Sister Linda Zahner

As the community gathers tonight to celebrate the life of Sr. Jan Futrell, we wish to express our sympathy and prayers to her nieces and nephews, Jim & Marlowe, Mary & Dan, Rich & Liz, Anne & John, John & Christine and their families, her cousin, Sue and special community members Sr. Marie Ballman and Sr. Joanne Yankauskis, as well as her many friends and Oblates of Red Plains Monastery.

It seems quite appropriate that we celebrate Sr. Jan’s gifted life here on earth with the Gospel from Matthew,

“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a bushel basket.”

That light in Sr. Jan’s life began when she was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Dec. 3, 1934. She was one of five children born to George and Martha Rose Futrell. Their family was quite unique. Of the five children, George died in infancy, and three entered religious life: Sr. Jeanne Marie was a Carmelite nun, Fr. John was a Jesuit priest, and our own Sr. Jan. The only one to marry was James. He married JoAnne, and they had five children.

Sr. Jan’s nieces and nephews have been very faithful in calling her, especially on holidays and when the family gathered for various events. Sr. Jan looked forward to visiting on the phone as each one took a turn to say, “Hello Aunt Jeannie!” Family meant very much to her.

Sr. Jan entered community in June of 1953, thus celebrating 71 years living the Benedictine way of life. She listened and responded generously as we heard in Micah tonight. She put all her trust in God, who was the light of her life. She knew with all her heart that God would hear her prayer.

Sr. Jan had a long and impressive professional life. In her early years in community, she taught English, Latin and Journalism, receiving a Masters in Education. She went on to study spirituality work, receiving her Masters in Spirituality from St. Louis University and later her Doctorate.

Throughout her years in spirituality work, she held a number of positions. Coordinator for the Institute of Religious Formation in St. Louis, she helped found and became the Coordinator for Focus on Leadership in Denver and then moved back to Oklahoma as Director of Renew for the Archdiocese. Following that position, she was appointed the Coordinator for Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Ministry in the Oklahoma Archdiocese.

Sr. Jan was actively involved in the training of spiritual directors. She and her Jesuit brother, John, worked very closely together in various retreat settings, spiritual direction programing and training for the Retreat in Daily Life. Sr. Jan and Fr. John presented many spiritual renewal workshops traveling to Africa, Canada, England, Ireland, Singapore and the United States.

Sr. Jan helped found God+Center which provided spiritual direction training. Later it evolved into the Red Plains Spirituality Center providing spiritual direction, retreats and spiritual direction training. She truly enjoyed her ministry in spiritual direction, it delighted her to share the light of Christ with others in their spiritual journey. 

Sr. Jan was a people person. While she could not in her later years remember things or ask many questions, she loved for you to stop by and spend some time with her, talking about the weather, complementing her on the colorful gown she had on that day, or sharing with her something from the world news.

Sr. Jan enjoyed watching movies with others in the Solarium in Dooley Center. She also enjoyed her cards games and sitting around the table with the other sisters engaged in the game. Sr. Jan was always up for a party! She never wanted to miss any gathering that was happening.

I can definitely imagine the power house she was in her prime and how engaging she was as a teacher, retreat director, and founder of the Spiritual Exercise program and Spiritual Directors training that she and several other sisters at the Red Plains Monastery sponsored and directed.

As we heard in 2 nd Corinthians, Sr. Jan was a manifestation of the light of Christ for many, assisting that transformation in others so they could share and shine in that divine light. While her body was afflicted in these later years, she let the light shine out of that darkness.

I became Sr. Jan’s companion just before the COVID outbreak. From all the cards and calls she received, it was evident that she was faithfully dedicated to her family, her life in community and the joy she had in assisting others in their spiritual journey.            

The last moments we had with Sr. Jan reminded us of the great expectation that awaits us in our final moments and heavenly approach… She openly accepted the next earthly transformation in her life… Shortly after we prayed some formal prayers and asked her siblings to come and receive her, she opened her eyes wide, opened her mouth large and took a few last breaths…  joining them peacefully …moving gracefully into her heavenly transformation, uniting with the eternal light, and believing as we read in John’s gospel –

“I will come back again and take you to Myself, so that where I am, you also may be…”John 14: 3