Sister Joan Dawson, OSF 1941-2025
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Sister Joan Dawson, former teacher, died March 16, 2025, in St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany. For 66 years, she faithfully lived her vows to God through her ministry and life in community.
Joan Helen Dawson, the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Van de Castle) Dawson was born Feb. 13, 1941, in Rochester.
She entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany order on Sept. 8, 1959; was received into the Congregation on July 2, 1960, and professed her final vows on July 3, 1961. Majoring in English and minoring in philosophy, Sister Joan received her bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. She earned her master’s degree in English at the University of Notre Dame, and her doctorate in Education from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1975.
She spent most of her religious life serving as a high school teacher and administrator, primarily in South Florida.
Sister Joan is survived by one sister, Kathleen Jackson of Warner Robins, Georgia, a niece and three nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Dolores Powers.
The wake service for Sister Joan will be on Tuesday, March 18 at 4 p.m. in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, in the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse chapel. Burial will follow in St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany.
