Sister JoAnn Maria

Sister JoAnn Maria             ND 4579             ⇒ PDF Download
Formerly Sister Mary Joseph Therese

Jo Ann Teresa TORTI

Mary Immaculate Province, Toledo, Ohio, USA

Date and Place of Birth:      May 17, 1932       Toledo, Ohio
Date and Place of Profession: August 17, 1954    Toledo, Ohio
Date and Place of Death:     August 31, 2015     Toledo, Ohio
Date and Place of Funeral:   September 4, 2015   Toledo, Ohio
Date and Place of Burial:    September 5, 2015   Resurrection Cemetery, Toledo, Ohio

Philosopher, mentor, advocate, teacher, friend, Sister JoAnn Maria left us suddenly in her own quiet way as she slipped into heaven. As Sisters and friends gathered at her bedside at Ursuline Center, her death mirrored her life, full, quiet and effective. JoAnn was born into an Italian home and, with her brother Joseph, were the children of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Konrad Torti. JoAnn attended Notre Dame Academy and joined the Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1952 she was received into the congregation taking the name of Sister Mary Joseph Therese.

Sister JoAnn Maria possessed innate skills in leadership that found multiple expressions during her sixty-one years of professed religious life. She was known to be a master teacher and Principal at the elementary, secondary and collegiate levels—her expertise being especially in English, Theology and Philosophy. Helping to shape the minds and hearts of young people was very dear to her heart. Sister also served the community by being a member of the Provincial Council, Board of Trustees, Peace and Justice Committee, 1974 Commission in Rome, Facilities and Grounds Manager, Diocesan Sisters’ Council, General Chapter Delegate, and others.

Active in outreach ministry to the poor, in her later years she became an accredited representative of the Department of Homeland Security Board of Immigration Appeals. This position allowed her to bring her compassionate heart and strong sense of justice to the aid of the Latino immigrants in Northwest Ohio, helping them with English and Citizenship instruction and immigration documentation.

Sister JoAnn Maria cherished our Notre Dame community. She loved preparing a tasty meal and spending time in play and conversation with her sisters. She had a wonderful ability to listen intently to others, summarize succinctly their thoughts and quietly bring her own wisdom and insight to bear on the topic of conversation. She had a warm sense of humor. She walked quietly and graciously among us. Those who knew her well observed that one could never rush her. She needed time to process things letting each project or idea have its own period of gestation before coming to birth.

Sister JoAnn Maria witnessed to us how to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God. May she now experience the loving embrace of the One she loved so well in this life.