Janice Lauer Rice

November 18, 1932 - April 7, 2021

Facebook

visitation

St Thomas Aquinas Center

535 W. State St

West Lafayette, IN 47906

Saturday 4/17, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

service

mass

St Thomas Aquinas Center

535 W. State St

West Lafayette, IN 47906

Saturday 4/17, 2:00 pm

Janice Lauer Rice died on April 7, 2021, at University Place, where she resided since 2008. She is survived by her beloved husband John R. Rice, her niece, Erica Tierney, (husband John) and nephews, John and Brad Tierney and grand-nephew Hunter Tierney; her stepsons, David Hutton (wife Sherry), Cameron Hutton (wife Ellen) and Dan Hutton (wife Dena) and granddaughters, Jillian, Savannah, Anna Kate, Megan, Claire, Sydney, Sophia, Avery and Mia.

Janice was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1932, adopted by loving parents the late Vincent and Viola Lauer and raised with younger sister, Carolann Tierney. She attended St. Matthew’s Grade School, Dominican High School and Marygrove College. She spent several years as a member of the IHM Community receiving her master’s degree in English from St. Louis University and her doctorate in English from the University of Michigan. After teaching in Detroit Public Schools, Marygrove College and the University of Detroit, she moved in 1980 to Purdue University where she founded one of the first doctoral programs in a new field in English, “Rhetoric and Composition.” In 1984, she married David Hutton, who died in 1999. In 2010, she married her second true love, John R. Rice.

During her teaching and scholarly career, she directed the Cranbrook Writers Conference; offered a two-week international summer Rhetoric Seminar for professors for thirteen years; directed and taught in Purdue’s Rhetoric and Composition Graduate Program for 23 years including directing over 57 dissertations. When she retired in 2003, the program had over 200 doctoral graduates. She also wrote books and essays in her field as well as lectured extensively about the writing process as inquiry. A Distinguished Professor at Purdue, she received awards including an “Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters” from St. Edwards University in Austin Texas; the Conference on College of Composition and Communication “Exemplar Award;” Purdue’s School of Liberal Arts “Excellence in Education Award;” a Hopwood Award at the University of Michigan, and the Rhetoric Society of America’s “Distinguished Service Award.”

In retirement, she served as President of the Aquinas Educational Foundation; as Coordinator of the Consortium of Rhetoric and Composition Doctoral Programs; as Executive Committee member of the National Council of Teachers of English; as a member of the Board of Directors of the Rhetoric Society of America; and a volunteer at the Indiana Veterans’ Home.

Janice spent many happy years at University Place with her beloved John, friends and visiting family and wonderful graduate students.

Visitation will be one hour prior to a 2:00 pm Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, April 17, 2021. The service will be streamed live from St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church by going to https://youtu.be/3HkBhUdITaU .She will have a private family burial at Guardian Angel Cemetery, Rochester, MI. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial contributions to: Purdue Foundation Janice M. Lauer Dissertation Award or the Aquinas Educational Foundation. Envelopes available at the church. You may leave condolences at www.soller-baker.com

Soller-Baker Funeral Homes, Inc.

Katherine Ellen Rowan

Barbara Toth

Paul Lynch

Anne Crane IHM

Jennifer Morrison

Lucia Colella-Yantosca and Bob Yantosca

Katie Swacha

Huiling Ding

CHARLIE

David Hutton

Michael Gos

St Thomas Aquinas Center

535 W. State St

West Lafayette, IN 47906

Map

Saturday 4/17, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Send Flowers & Gifts

St Thomas Aquinas Center

535 W. State St

West Lafayette, IN 47906

Map

Saturday 4/17, 2:00 pm

Send Flowers & Gifts

See Condolences

Janice taught me invention, or sets of questions we can ask ourselves before we begin to research and write. That gift made me a much better teacher than I would have ever been otherwise from the early 1980s through today. Thank you to all of her former students who were in touch with Janice throughout her later years. I send kind thoughts and condolences to all her family.

To her immediate family in mourning, Janice came to me in a two hour dream last night. She was in her usual role as mentor. I haven't thought of her regularly in years. So I immediately googled her--only to learn that she had died this April. Janice Lauer had an immense influence on my life and taught me important lessons. Like Anne Crane, I knew her at Marygrove College. She was my assigned mentor in the English division during my freshman year, but she made the most significant difference in my life. She saw potential where others saw disappointment. When I moved out from home at nineteen seeking independence, she both found me a job at University of Detroit and found me a place to stay with her niece. No one would rent to us because one of my roommates was African-American. I ended up living in that apartment for ten years. When I completed my undergraduate degree at Marygrove and was clueless about what to do next, she informed me that there was a teaching fellowship available at University of Detroit. That positively shaped the rest of my life. I ended up with a Ph.D in English (thank you, Seymour Gross) and a full-time job at Henry Ford Community College, where I had a fulfilling 32 year career as faculty member, Senate chair, and associate dean. None of this might have happened without her intervention. Janice Lauer saw potential when I experienced despair. She encouraged me to submit an essay to the Marygrove Journal, where I became the first freshman to be published. For the first seven years after I snared a fulltime job, I'd see Janice Lauer at the annual CCC conference, and I'd always send her flowers on her birthday and thank her profusely for her positive intervention in my life. Finally, in New York, she told me flowers were unnecessary--that her interactions in my life were relatively effortless. That was the last lesson she taught me, one I followed for the next three decades. It takes relatively little effort to change the lives of others for the better if you have the appropriate influence. Every time I plucked someone from my class to be in the HFCC honors program, a position that guaranteed them a scholarship to University of Michigan or equivalent colleges, I thought of Janice Lauer. It took so little effort on my part, but it changed someone else's life for the better. Given Janice's profound and unexpected appearance in a dream last night, I believe her spirit continues. Perhaps that offers some comfort to her family that must miss her daily.

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Barbara Toth lit a candle

Janice Lauer was a blessing to me--and many, many, many others I saw her interact with, mentor, teach and help. The world is infinitely more blessed for her life. I was blessed to know her as a teacher, mentor and friend since she was Sister Janice Marie, I.H.M. back in old Detroit. I imagine her now with her family and friends in Heaven--Janice was a firm believer in the Communion of Saints. My words at this sad time don't come easily because Janice's beautiful love and passion for life and other people are too big to be confined in them. Many prayers and a Mass at Holy Cross Hungarian Church in Detroit will be said for Janice and her dear family. May God comfort each of you. May the eternal light shine upon her. May Janice rest in peace. P.S. Thank you for livestreaming the Holy Mass.

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Paul Lynch lit a candle

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

As graduate students in Ann Arbor, I saw how much fun Janice was. When I was a new faculty member and Janice chaired the Marygrove College English department, she taught me how to organize and teach college level writing classes. When I was Dean of the School of Humanities at St.Edward’s University in Austin, Janice helped us develop a strong English Writing major and a university-wide, 4 year writing program. We recognized her contributions by awarding her an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. She will be missed.

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Jennifer Morrison lit a candle

Darling Janice! Eternal rest garnt unto her O Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon you, Amen.

Our dearest Janice was a shining light for us, especially for my parents Adele and Roberto Colella who also were at University Place in their their later years. I stayed in touch with Janice and would share with her news of the Focolare family, which she very much enjoyed. Janice had a beautiful capacity of loving each person as they were. I am sure that Our Blessed Mother welcomed Janice into Heaven right away. With love and gratitude to you dear Janice!

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Katie Swacha lit a candle

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Huiling Ding lit a candle

Dear Janice, thank you for being a wonderful mentor, a ground breaking scholar, and the caring founder of Purdue's Rhet/Comp program. You will be dearly missed.

Thank you so much, Dr. Lauer, for being my lifelong mentor.

THANKS JANICE

Remembering Janice and her incredible life, contributions to our discipline, and impact on her students. My life is forever changed because of her mentoring and support.

John, so sorry to hear of Janice's death. Peace to you and your family.

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, David Hutton lit a candle

Thank you so much, Dr. Lauer. You gave me the life I have. I will never forget you.

In gratitude--she gave so much to so many, and what a grace to pass away during the time of Easter joy. Her intense scholarship was always such a great joy to me--seeing all the articles cut out and in cartons and file folders, and spending time in the library with her.

Thank you, Professor Lauer. I will always be grateful.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Docendo discimus—By teaching, we learn.

Janice has been both a professional model and personal model for me. The significant role she has played in the field of Rhetoric and Composition and in the lives of her students will always be remembered. Thank you Janice, I have always been and will continue to be grateful for all that you have done for me and all that you have taught me.

Janice, known to me as Gran Jan, has left a legacy of generosity, knowledge, and love. She shared her kindness and gratitude with everyone around her, and is an amazing example to all her grandchildren for all that we could accomplish one day. I am so lucky to have had her join my family. We will miss her, but her spirit will live on with the many lives she has impacted.

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Helen Foster lit a candle

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Louise Wetherbee Phelps lit a candle

We met Janice later in her life when she became part of the local Focolare Movement community. Her belief in God and showing loving kindness for everyone she was with was an inspiration. She always expressed joy and gratitude for her family, friends, colleagues, students and the many adventures, opportunities and blessings she had in her life. Janice was a beautiful, generous and amazing woman, who we will miss very much. Don & Ann Mitchell

We will all miss you, Janice. Thank you for everything.

Janice was a force of nature, a one-of-a-kind teacher and mentor whose high expectations were matched only by her kindness and generosity. I am so grateful to have worked with her and to be part of the community that she built.

Janice was truly a beautiful person, inside and out. It was a pleasure to know Janice. Our deepest sympathy to her family. May God Bless.

When I came to the Purdue English Department in 1991 as an assistant professor in American literature, Janice was one of the first people to welcome me. Although we worked in different programs, we spent much time together on committees, in her office talking, and having conversations in the hallway. I quickly grew to adore her. Janice had a brilliant mind and could cut through the fog of words to get to the crux of any situation. She had an extraordinary ability to see everything. She created one of the nation's great Rhetoric & Composition programs, and for years carried it on her back. But what I will most remember was her humanity, her kindness and compassion for others, her delightful sense of humor. Janice could light up a room just by her presence. She was as thoroughly decent and empathetic as anyone I've ever known. She was, in every way, a beautiful soul. I miss her terribly and will never forget her. Rest in peace, my beautiful colleague and friend.

Dear Janice, The candle is not eternal. At some point, its flame goes out. But when it burns, it burns bright and sharp and long and with a profound sense of purpose and beauty. This is your legacy for us, among us, and within us. Grieving your departure, but ever so grateful for all that you taught me,

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Paul Kei Matsuda lit a candle

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Joel Wingard lit a candle

In loving memory, John

Jan has such a big heart and accomplished so much in her lifetime. She will live on in the hearts of all those she touched with her kindness XX

Janice was remarkable. She was a conscientious do-er, always giving to those she loved and mentored and genuinely caring about the lives her students and colleagues forged. She will be missed by so many, including this Purdue graduate.

My family’s condolences on Janice’s passing. She was a pillar of the Purdue community and will be greatly missed.

Janice’s intellectual commitment to the concept of invention is expressed in her scholarship and, profoundly, in the lives of her students and the complexity of the field of rhetoric and composition she helped to define. She taught us so much and made so much possible for so many.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

In memory of Janice Lauer Rice, Maria lit a candle

Some of my fondest memories of Purdue are of times spent at Janice's house, which was always warm and inviting to us graduate students.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.