sister stories

An Erie native, Sister Margaret Ann Hardner attended St. Patrick School, Villa Maria Academy, and Villa Maria College, all in Erie, before attending Xavier University and Providence College. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Patrick’s parish on September 2, 1949, and she professed her final vows on August 15, 1955. Sister Margaret…

Sister Josette Marie Gocella was born in Bradford, PA. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 8, 1954, from her home parish, St. Bernard, Bradford, Pennsylvania and professed her final vows on August 15, 1960. She received an MA in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago, an MA in English from Gannon…

Sister Margaret Frank, SSJ, was born in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. She graduated from St. Leo High School and Elementary School, Ridgway. She received an M.Ed. from Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania, in 1974 and a BA from Villa Maria College, Erie in 1964. She also studied at Fairfield University, Connecticut, and Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts. She…

Virginia Forney, was born in Olean, N.Y. After graduating from Olean High School in 1953, she felt an invitation to become a Sister and requested information from the Sisters of St. Joseph. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania from St. Mary of the Angels parish in Olean, NY, on September 2,…

Sister Perpetua Dickant, SSJ, was born in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. She received a bachelor’s in elementary education from Villa Maria College, Erie, in 1972. She participated in many seminars and workshops on early childhood education in Washington, DC, Richmond, VA, and Harrisburg, PA. Sr. Perpetua entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from her home parish, St.…

Sister Carmel Rojek, SSJ, was born in Lackawanna, NY, and graduated from Lackawanna High School. She earned an Associate of Arts degree from Holyoke Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Massachusetts School of Nursing. Sr. Carmel was initially accepted into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Buffalo before entering…

Sister Carol Morehouse, SSJ, is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Villa Maria Academy and Villa Marie College in 1971 with a BS degree in Elementary Education. She furthered her studies, earning a JD degree in Law from Duquesne University Law School in 1986. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St.…

Sister James Francis Mulligan, SSJ was born in Meadville, PA. She attended St. Brigid Elementary School and St. Agatha High School in Meadville. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from Villa Maria College, Erie, and went on to earn a master’s from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph…

Sister Rose Marie Chisholm was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from Sacred Heart Parish in Watertown, Massachusetts, on May 8, 1947, and professed her final vows in 1953. Sister Rose Marie graduated from Watertown Senior High School in Massachusetts and continued her education at Villa Maria College, Erie, PA.…