Joan Irene, youngest of the four children of Clara Rappl and Thomas Maier, was born in Rochester, N.Y. on Sept. 30, 1932. Joan was baptized at Holy Family Church, Rochester and attended grammar school at Holy Family School. The school was staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and Joan said in her autobiography, “I greatly admired the Sisters and even during these early years, I felt attracted to Notre Dame.”
As a second grader, Joan received her first Holy Communion at Holy Family Church and was confirmed there in 1944 by Rev. James E. Kearney, the Bishop of Rochester.
While in the eighth grade, Joan learned of the SSND Juniorate program at Holy Angels Academy in Fort Lee, N.J. and considered attending there. Instead, she decided to go to the two-year St. Joseph Commercial School taught by SSNDs. Joan graduated from St. Joseph’s in 1948. Concerning that time, Joan said, “A desire for religious life once again arose within me….but when I graduated, I decided to go to work until I was certain of what I wanted.” Joan found employment doing general office work for a publishing company, and in a later position she assisted in bookkeeping, shorthand and typing.
In August, 1949, Joan entered the candidature of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Not having an academic diploma, she attended the Institute of Notre Dame, Baltimore, MD. and received her diploma in June 1951. Joan felt privileged during the time she spent in the candidature and said they were years she would always cherish. In an autobiography written then, Joan said, “Here I came to really know the Mary-spirit that is the spirit of our Order. I know that the lessons I have learned will prove invaluable in my later religious life.”
Joan entered the novitiate on July 16, 1951 and was given the name Sister Mary de Paul. She professed her first vows on Aug. 2, 1952 and was sent to St. Ann’s School, Baltimore where she taught second grade for one year. Remaining at St. Ann’s, she taught the commercial classes I and II (1953-61) and assumed the additional responsibilities of administrator (1961-1967). Sister Joan taught at the secondary level at Notre Dame Preparatory School, Towson (1967-68). She was also principal at Our Lady of Hope School, Baltimore (1977-80).
Sister Joan’s advanced education included a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (now University) in 1964. As a full-time student at Catholic University, Washington, D.C., she completed a Master of Religious Education degree in 1982. Sister Joan majored in Religious Education for Adults.
The later years of Sister Joan’s ministry were varied in scope. She was an urban community organizer for the Archdiocese of Baltimore (1968-70); did administrative assistant/secretarial work at St. Ann’s parish, Baltimore (1970-73) and Holy Family, Rochester (1973-77). She became the pastoral associate at St. Francis of Assisi parish, Baltimore (1981-87); was secretary to the General Council, in Rome, Italy (1987-90); and was pastoral associate for social ministry, St. Mary’s, Bryantown, MD (1990-92). Sister Joan was elected to the provincial council of the Baltimore Province (1992-2000). Following her term of office, she had a sabbatical in Sandy Hook, KY, followed by the position of administrative assistant at the NAMA Coordinating Center, Chicago, IL (2000 -04). Sister Joan served as secretary to several provincial offices, i.e. JPIC, associates, vocations (2004-07), until she became the community leader at Marian Village, Homer Glen, IL (2007-10). Sister Joan offered community service at Villa Notre Dame, Wilton, CT (2010-14) until she returned to Villa Assumpta for prayer and presence.
Sister Joan had unique business skills, brains and common sense, which aptly suited her wide array of ministries. She was efficient and capable. She was pastoral and respectful of people. She was a person to be counted on. When there was something to be done Joan rolled up her sleeves and did it. Nothing was too much for her.
Sister Joan’s quiet way of dealing with people on a personal level was nurtured by her great love of family and community. From her earliest days in the candidature, Joan’s companion sisters found her to be steady, mature and a loyal friend who garnered their respect. She could be relied upon to be kind and welcoming. One friend said of later years, “There was never a time that she didn’t come to greet me.”
Joan knew herself, what she could or could not do. She spoke her mind and was straightforward in her interactions with others. Not afraid of new things, Sister Joan had a great desire to minister in Africa. As a councilor, she was able to travel there and to other missionary countries. Joan treasured time with her friends. She loved to drive and travel, to walk on the beach, to read, and to nourish her spiritual life.
Sister Joan Maier died peacefully at Villa Assumpta on Jan. 6, 2018. Joan made a donation of organs to the Rush Religious Order Study, a collaborative study with Rush University, Chicago, IL, and other U.S. medical centers. According to Joan’s specific wishes, a memorial Mass was celebrated on Epiphany Sunday, January 7, the day following her death. Joan’s cremains were interred at Villa Maria Cemetery, Glen Arm, MD on January 23, with sisters and friends participating in the simple service. Joan is survived by many nieces and nephews.
Those who live for the Lord never see each other for the last time…an old German motto.
-Jeanne Hildenbrand, SSND
