Janet L. Merdan

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, October 10, 2025, at St. John’s Abbey/University Church in Collegeville, MN for Janet L. Merdan, age 77, of Little Falls, MN who passed away on Monday, September 29th at her care home Diamond Willow. Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. and burial will take place at St. John the Baptist Parish Cemetery in Collegeville following mass. Janet was born May 5, 1948, in Artesia, New Mexico to Benjamin R. Tinnin and Emma Skluzacek. She was a 1966 graduate of St. Cloud Technical High School. Janet married Leonard Ralph Merdan on August 20, 1966, and together had six children. Since 1967 she resided in Avon, MN living in six custom homes built by her husband for their growing family before moving to Albany in 2004. Upon her husband’s passing in 2022, she moved to assisted living. After many years as a homemaker, two of Janet’s sons were in the St. John’s Boys Choir and she provided the tailoring needs for multiple years and supported international performances in Europe, Asia, Bahamas and across the USA. That led her to becoming the St. John’s Abbey community seamstress in 1988 making monastic clothing, celebratory banners, and liturgical vestments in the tailor shop in addition to regular clothing repairs and alterations until her retirement in 2015. Janet also caringly hosted with her husband and family multiple international students that attended St. John’s Preparatory School. Janet spent countless hours in her sewing/quilting room at her home where she taught friends and family, with special enjoyment teaching her granddaughters her sewing skills. Janet participated in the St. Cloud Heritage Quilters Club, winning several awards for her quilts, along with attending many quilting retreats. She was skilled in all that she did from her leather work, calligraphy, drawings and oil paintings. Janet was also a member of the Stearns County Pioneer Club, during the annual event she demonstrated her skills in the Quilt Shop. Janet’s journey with dementia began in 2018, gently changing the rhythm of her days and the ways she could care for herself. Yet even as the illness took hold, it could not diminish the love and creativity she poured into her quilts. Each piece she stitched was a gift of comfort and beauty, carrying her spirit in every pattern. May the quilts she so generously crafted continue to wrap her family and friends in warmth, and may they hold the memories of her hands and heart for years to come. Janet is survived by her children, Kenneth (Bridget) Merdan, Dean (Susan) Merdan, Curtis (Laura) Merdan, Lyle, Taunya (Trevor) Poser, MaryAlice (Peter) Faust; 12 grandchildren: Addison and Nolan Merdan, Elizabeth and Nicholas Merdan, Abigail and Clara Merdan, Cole and Brooke Poser, Riley, Lane, Trace (Mabel) and Tyler (Fiance´ Ava) Faust; and great grandchild, Westin Faust; stepbrother Mike Roering; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; parents, Emma Skluzacek-Roering and Benjamin R. Tinnin; stepfather, Ebehard Roering; stepbrother, Robert Roering The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Diamond Willow for their sincere care and compassion for our mom, as well as to CHI Hospice for their gentle support during her journey. In lieu of flowers, memorials honoring Janet may be directed toward organizations supporting dementia care, ensuring that others walking a similar path may find comfort and help.

Janet L. Merdan

May 5, 1948 - September 29, 2025