Sister of St. Joseph Joanne Clark died Feb. 17, 2021. She was 96 years old.
Sister Clark entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Watertown in 1942 from her home parish of St. Rita in Deferiet, N.Y. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music in 1960 from Marywood College in Scranton, Pa., and a master’s degree in education in 1970 from Marygrove College in Detroit, Mich.
For 34 years, Sister Clark taught school in the Watertown area and served as principal at St. John, Morristown, and at St. Patrick, Watertown. She also was the music instructor at Augustinian Academy, Carthage, and later at Mater Dei College, Ogdensurg.
In 1978, Sister Clark transferred to the Sisters of St. Joseph in Rochester. She taught at Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Rochester; Our Lady of Lourdes, Brighton; and St. Jerome, East Rochester. She served as principal at St. Michael, Penn Yan, from 1982-84.
Sister Clark was hired as school secretary at Our Mother of Sorrows, Greece, in 1984 and remained in that position for seven years. She then served as building coordinator for the early education program at St. Lawrence School, Greece, until 1995. From then until her retirement in 2011, Sister Clark volunteered in the congregation’s Sisters’ Care Program.
Sister Clark is survived by her nieces, nephews, friends and sisters in the congregation. Her funeral liturgy was celebrated at the motherhouse chapel on Feb. 23, 2021, with burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Ministry Fund at www.ssjrochester.org or 150 French Road, Rochester, NY 14618.
