CUMBERLAND — Mercy Sister M. Joanna O’Brien, 91, a retired educator and principal, died Nov. 17 at Mount St. Rita Health Centre.
Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late William J. and Anna B. (Donovan) O’Brien. She was baptized Frances Mary O’Brien.
She entered the Sisters of Mercy on Feb. 2, 1942 and professed her vows on Aug. 16, 1946. Sister O’Brien was a 1941 graduate of the former St. Francis Xavier Academy and earned a bachelor of science degree in education from the former Catholic Teachers College in Providence.
Sister O’Brien ministered as a group supervisor and teacher at the former St. Aloysius Home, Greenville, and later taught at several elementary schools in the Diocese of Providence. She was appointed principal of the former St. Edward School in Providence in 1965, and subsequently ministered at the former Cranston-Johnston Catholic Regional School for 22 years before retiring in 1995.
She is survived by several nieces. She was the sister of the late Frederick T. and William O’Brien.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 19 in Mount St. Rita Chapel. Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland.
Pope Benedict XVI has declared the period of June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010 as the Year for Priests. During this period, Rhode Island Catholic will present a series of biweekly interviews with diocesan and religious order priests ministering in the Diocese of Providence. Priests were chosen at random and sent a list of questions. The responses are published as written by those who have answered the call to serve Christ and his church.
