February 13, 1941 — March 16, 2025
Allegany
BORN: Joan Helen Dawson, February 13, 1941, in Rochester, NY
DIED: March 16, 2025, in St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY
DAUGHTER OF: Daniel and Mary Van de Castle Dawson, Rochester, NY
Sr. Joan entered the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany on September 8, 1959; was received into the Congregation on July 2, 1960, and professed her final vows on July 3, 1961. For 66 years she faithfully lived her vows to God through her ministry and life in community.
Sr. Joan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Bonaventure University, majoring in English and minoring in philosophy. 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, MI, in 1975.
She spent most of her religious life serving as a high school teacher and administrator, primarily in South Florida.
Sr. Joan is survived by one sister, Kathleen Jackson of Warner Robins, GA; one niece, Patricia Powers of North Tonawanda; three nephews, Christopher Powers of Bangor, Maine, John Michael Bartels of Wildwood, IL, and Daniel Bartels of Graylake IL; and one great nephew, John Bartels of Graylake, IL.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Dolores Powers, and two cousins, the Rev. Paul J. Freemesser and Dr. George Freemesser.
The wake service for Sr. Joan Dawson will be on Tuesday, March 18 at 4:00 p.m. in the chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, in the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse chapel. Burial will follow in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 East State Street, Olean, New York. For condolences, please visit www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com.
