Sister Joanne O’Brien (Sister Mary Alice Anne), 77, died Saturday, November 5, 2011 at Rockdale Healthcare Center, Covington, GA after a brief illness. On Sunday, November 13, in the Humility of Mary Center Magnificat Chapel, 820 W. Central Park Ave, Davenport, IA, there will be a rosary at 4 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 14, at 11 a.m., with burial following in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Davenport. Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home is assisting Sr. Joanne’s family with arrangements.
Mary Joanne O’Brien was born July 26, 1934, to James L. “Bert” and Anne Collins O’Brien in Iowa City, IA. She entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, professing vows on July 28, 1955. She received an AA in Elementary Education from Ottumwa Heights College, Ottumwa, IA and a BA from Marycrest College, Davenport IA.
Sister Joanne taught at Iowa schools in Dunlap and Des Moines (St. Anthony) as well as Rock Island, IL (St. Pius), Minneapolis, MN (St. Austin and St. Catherine College), Denver, CO (Notre Dame) and Great Falls, MT (St. Mary). Some of her other ministries were pastoral work, religious education, community organizing, social services and child care. She retired in Covington and expressed her deep commitment to peace and justice through her work with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Augustine Catholic Church and the League of Women Voters. She will be remembered for her service to the poor.
Memorials may be made to the Congregation of the Humility of Mary.
She is survived by a brother Patrick (Jerlynn) O’Brien, Parnell, IA, sisters Jeanne (William) Burlage, Amana, IA, Joyce (John) Wedlock, Sunrise Beach, MO, Janet (William) Denton, West Des Moines, IA and Jerri (Don) Moeller, Davenport, IA, many nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Loescher, Jeff and Suzy Quinlan and family, all of Covington, as well as Sisters and Associates of her CHM community.
Sister Joanne was preceded in death by her parents.
Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Sr. Joanne’s obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
