Sister Joan Sherry RSM 1935-2024

Sister Joan Sherry, RSM, remembered for her lessons inside and outside the classroom, died Nov. 15, 2024. She had been a Sister of Mercy for 70 years.

Joan was born in Buffalo to Janette (Zelinski) Sherry and Peter Sherry, the oldest of six children, which included Peter Jr., Dick, Gloria, Barbara and Janette.

Joan attended St. Brigid Elementary School, Bishop Quigley High School, Niagara University and Buffalo State College. She enjoyed playing board games, swimming, and playing sports.

On Aug. 30, 1954, Joan entered the Sisters of Mercy Community. She taught in a variety of both elementary schools and high schools. She also served as principal at St. William School, St. Brigid, SS. Peter & Paul in Jamestown, and Mount Mercy Academy.

Known as a strict English teacher, her students were grateful for her stern lessons, as many went on to earn scholarships. 

“I love to see students grow,” she told the Western New York Catholic in 2018. “When they first came into class, they loved to fool around, things like that, and me being strict, they learned a lot and they did well.” 

From 1976-1984, Sister Joan was elected to community leadership. As coordinator of education, Sister Joan supervised the principals in the various Mercy Schools.

For 14 years, Sister Joan worked with Catholic Charities at the Commodore Perry Housing Development, not far from where she grew up in the Old First Ward. She designed an outreach program that involved home visits, cooking classes, sewing classes, and reading groups. She was also instrumental in opening St. Brigid’s Food Pantry. She also met with grandmothers raising their grandchildren and supported them with the challenges that they experienced.

A funeral Mass will be held Nov. 20, at 10 a.m. at the Mercy Center Chapel. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.