Sister Janet Ebben, OSF, of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, died on Jan. 12 at St. Francis Convent, Springfield. She was 97 years old.

Sister Janet was born in Kaukauna, Wis., on Aug. 20, 1918, the daughter of Henry and Mary Huven Ebben. She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1937 and professed her religious vows on Oct. 4, 1939.

She graduated in 1945 from St. John's Hospital School of Nursing and served the community as a nurse at HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1956, she joined the Sisters at Alverna Home Nursing Center in Chicago until 1962 when she transferred to HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Wis., where she was head nurse until 1977. Sister Janet then spent the next 14 years as a staff nurse caring for her sisters in community in Loretto Home until 1991 when she became assistant to the coordinator of Loretto Home attending to the resident sisters' personal needs. She retired from active duty in 2002 to become herself a resident in Loretto Home.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers: Vincent, Richard, and Henry Ebben and five sisters: Frances Deprez, Clara Raepcke, Mathilda Vanden Bosch, Margaret Heindl, and Genevieve Ebben.

She is survived by a brother, Willard Ebben of Kaukauna, Wis.; a sister, Dorothy Waurunek of Luxemburg, Wis.; and several nieces and nephews, as well as her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared her life for more than 78 years.

The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial was celebrated by Father John Sullivan, OFM, on Jan. 16 in St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent. Burial was in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery.

Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.