Sister Joan Fleming - Rochester

ROCHESTER — Sister Joan Fleming (Sister Padrin) 89, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, died at Assisi Heights on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010.

Joan Mary Fleming was born to Edward and Kathryn (Lonergan) Fleming on May 19, 1920, in Mason City, Iowa. Joan and her twin sister, Jean (Sister Padraic), entered the Sisters of Saint Francis in 1938 from St. Joseph Parish, Mason City, Iowa, and made profession of vows in 1941. Sister Joan received a BS degree in elementary education at the College of St. Teresa in 1953 and MS degree in Elementary School Administration in 1960 from Winona State University.

Sister Joan was an elementary teacher for 23 years in schools in southern Minnesota: Springfield, Austin, Albert Lea, Winona and Waseca. She also served as principal at St. Juliana School in Chicago (1952-1955) and St. Augustine School, Austin (1964-1970). From 1970 to 1973, she served as a pastoral minister at parishes in Jackson and Delano, Minn.

In 1973, Sister Joan participated in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) internship programs in Rochester and Houston, Texas, after which she served for three years as a Staff Chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital, Albuquerque, N.M. Following further training, Sister Joan became certified as a CPE Supervisor in 1979. From 1980-1985 she served as a CPE Supervisor at St. Joseph Hospital, Parkersburg, W.Va., after which she developed CPE education programs in St. Louis, Mo., at St. Joseph Hospital, St. Louis State Hospital and St. Louis University Hospital. In 1997 Sister Joan moved to Assisi Heights, where she served for six years in Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction until her retirement in 2003.

Sister Joan’s immediate family preceded her in death. She is survived by her Franciscan Congregation with whom she shared life for 70 years.

A Funeral Liturgy will be held on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Assisi Heights, Rochester. Friends may call at Assisi Heights for the Vigil Service at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, and before the time of the service on Thursday. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Rochester.

Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Benefactor Relations at Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. N.W., Suite 100, Rochester, MN 55901.