Sister Ann Donohue, SSJ, formerly Sister Mary Timothy, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on August 29 while in the 65th year of her religious life.  She was born on July 26, 1938, in Bradford, PA, the daughter of the late Timothy and Regina (Hill) Donohue. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Bernard Parish in Bradford, PA, on August 28, 1957, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1965.  She commemorated the 60^th anniversary of her religious life in 2017. 

Sister Ann considered her parents to be the earliest source of her inspiration. “My first recognition of being called to consecrated life came from my parents who always referred to the Sisters of St. Joseph, who taught them, with great esteem,” she recalled on the occasion of her 60^th Jubilee. Several Sisters of St.Joseph, who taught her at a young age, also influenced her. The call to religious life persisted from grade school through high school and into college when she decided to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph. “I felt at home,” she said upon entering.  “I knew this was God’s direction for my life’s journey.”

Sister Ann graduated from St. Bernard High School in Bradford, PA, and pursued her education at Villa Maria College, Erie, where she earned a BS degree in elementary education in 1965. She furthered her education at St. Bonaventure University, Olean, NY, where she earned an MS degree in education and administration in 1975. Most of Sr. Ann’s ministry was in education, both teaching and administration. She taught at Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Peace, St. Patrick, St. John the Baptist, and Villa Maria Academy schools in Erie. She also taught and served as principal at St.Bernard in Bradford and Notre Dame School in Hermitage, PA.  Upon returning to Erie, Sr. Ann ministered at St. Mary’s Home of Erie. She later served as Coordinator of Lifelong Mission and Quality of Life program Co-Director for the Sisters of
St. Joseph.  

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Timothy and Thomas. She is survived by two sisters, Kay  Camas (Rocco) of Bradford, PA, and Joan Pessia (Robert) of Canyon Lake, Texas, five nieces and nephews, and eight great-nieces and nephews. She is also survived by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no calling hours. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be live-streamed on Thursday, September 2 at 4:30 p.m. on the Sisters of St. Joseph Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/SSJErie/ and the SSJ Erie YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/SSJErie/live. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA, 16506-1249 or online at www.ssjerie.org.

Davis-Garr Cremation Funeral Services, Inc. is handling arrangements.