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Marjorie Adams, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Agatha
Home Parish: St. John the Evangelist, Girard, PA
Sister Marjorie Adams became acquainted with religious life while living and studying at Villa Maria College. The spirit and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Joseph, exemplified by joy, dedication, and concern for others, led her to discern God’s call to become a member of the congregation.…
Clare Marie Beichner, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Michael, Fryburg, PA
Sister Clare Marie Beichner entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1978 from her home parish, St. Michael in Fryburg, PA. She received a Masters degree in social work in 1993 from the University of Pittsburgh and a MS in education and a BS in elementary education from Clarion State University.…
Ann Marie Cappello, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Francetta
Home parish: Sacred Heart, Erie, PA
Sister Ann Marie Cappello, SSJ, formerly Sister Francetta, earned a BS in Elementary Education from Villa Maria College, Erie (1966); a M.Ed in Education/Reading from Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA (1972); and received certification as a reading specialist from Edinboro University (1973).…
Josephine DePetro, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Mary Anthony
Home Parish: Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Bradford, PA
Sister Josephine DePetro recognized a call to religious life while in the eighth grade when Fr. Daniel Lord told her that she had a vocation. She pushed it aside, but prayed for guidance of what she was to do.…
Lucille DeStefano, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Leo, Ridgway, PA
Sr. Lucille DeStefano, SSJ, was born in Ridgway, PA to the late Michael and Helen Delpozzo DeStefano. As a young girl, she was greatly influenced by the Sisters of St. Joseph as she observed their good works for members of the community in her home parish of St.…
Perpetua Dickant, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Leo, Ridgway, PA
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.…
Phyllis DiFuccia, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Paula Marie
Home parish: St. Peter Cathedral, Erie, PA
Sr. Phyllis entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 8, 1966, and professed final vows on September 8, 1974. She graduated from Villa Maria Academy in Erie in 1965 and earned a bachelor’s degree in French from Villa Maria College in Erie in 1969, a master’s degree in French from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont in 1973, and a master’s degree in organization development from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois in 1996.…
Mary Drexler, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sr. Mary Kristen
Home Parish: Sacred Heart, Erie, PA
André Feulner, SSJ
Sister
Home Parish: St. George, Erie
Sister Andre Feulner recalls being influenced by Maryknoll magazine while in college. She felt a missionary call and went to the Sisters of St. Joseph, who were closer to home. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1955 from St. George Parish in Erie, and professed her final vows in 1961.…
Nancy Fischer, SSJ
Sister
Entrance: September 1, 1968
Final profession: September 10, 1978
Home parish: St. John the Baptist, Erie, PA
Mary Helen Forney, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Mary of Angels, Olean, NY
Sister Mary Helen Forney, (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.…
Margaret Frank, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Immaculata
Home parish: St. Leo Ridgway, PA
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.…
Mary Fromknecht, SSJ
Sister
Sr. Mary Fromknecht, SSJ, was drawn to religious life at a young age through the example of the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught her for twelve years. As she reflected on the Gospel of John, particularly Jesus’ words to Peter, “Do you love me?” and “Feed my sheep,” she gradually came to understand these words as a call to live out her Baptismal commitment through a life of service within the Church.…
Linda Fusco, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Joseph, Sharon, PA
Sr. Linda Ann Fusco was born in New York City. She was baptized at Saint Ann’s Parish in New York where she also received her first Holy Communion and Confirmation.
In 1966 her family moved to Farrell Pennsylvania where Sr. Linda graduated from Farrell Area High School in 1968.…
Josette Gocella, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Bernard, Bradford, PA
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 University, Erie, and a BA in English from Villa Maria College, Erie.…
Margaret Ann Hardner, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Patrick, Erie, PA
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.…
Mary Herrmann, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Rosemary
Home Parish: St. Ann, Erie
From her earliest memories, Sr. Mary Herrmann felt a strong desire to be a Sister. When she started school with the Sisters of St. Joseph, she knew more specifically that she wanted to be a Sister of St.…
Susan Herzing, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Mary’s, St. Marys, PA
Sister Susan Herzing, SSJ, of St. Marys, PA entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from her hometown parish, St. Mary’s, on September 8, 1966. She professed her first vows on August 15, 1969 and her final vows on September 15, 1974, following a formation rooted in parish life and early educational ministry.…
Phyllis Hilbert, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Joseph Therese
Home Parish: St. Luke, Erie, PA
Sister Phyllis was born in Erie, and attended St. John the Baptist elementary school and graduated from Vila Maria Academy. She attended Fordham University in New York; Gannon College, Erie; and Villa Maria College, Erie.
It was during a class retreat in her junior year of high school when the retreat director, Msgr.…
Mary Carol Hoke, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Brigid, Meadville, PA
Sister Mary Carol Hoke, SSJ, a native of Meadville, PA, worked as a secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Highways for more than four years before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1951. Through attending daily Mass and receiving Communion regularly, she felt drawn to religious life and credited her mother’s prayers, along with the example of devoted parish priests and the Sisters of St.…
Martha Howick, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Mary Walter
Home Parish: St. Agatha, Meadville, PA
Sister Martha Howick, SSJ, born in Meadville, PA, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Agatha Parish in Meadville, PA in 1959. She professed perpetual vows on August 15, 1967.
She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph after attending Indiana State Teachers’ College and completing training at Erie Commercial College, Ariel Bldg. …
Ann Marie Joint, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister John Patrick
Home Parish: St. Ann, Erie, PA
Sister Ann Marie Joint, SSJ, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Ann Parish in Erie on August 27, 1959, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1967.
Sister Ann Marie’s call to a religious vocation came at an early age, during 7th and 8th grade, but she tried to ignore it. …
Marie Stephen Kebort, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Brigid, Meadville, PA
Sister Marie Stephen Kebort, SSJ, born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, has devoted her life to education and faith formation, serving generations of students and parishioners with dedication and care. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Brigid Parish in Meadville on August 29, 1956 and professed final vows on August 15, 1964.…
Mary Rita Kuhn, SSJ
Sister
Home Parish: St. Andrew’s, Erie
Encouraged by her 10th-grade religion teacher to do something special during Lent, a young Mary Rita Kuhn began attending daily Mass as often as possible. Today, Sr. Mary Rita Kuhn credits that prayer time and the examples set by the Sisters of St. Joseph with helping her to discern a call to religious life.…
Catherine Manning, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister James Miriam
Home Parish: St. Bernard, Bradford, PA
Veronica Mittal, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Andrene
Home Parish: Sacred Heart, Sharon, PA
Sister Veronica Mittal was born in Masury, Ohio, the daughter of the late Andrew and Mary Dacey Mittal. She graduated from Brookfield High, Ohio and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from Sacred Heart Parish in Sharon, PA on August 28, 1957, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1965.…
Carol Morehouse, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Peter Cathedral, Erie, PA
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.…
Elizabeth Ann Niebauer, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: Blessed Sacrament, Erie, PA
Sister Elizabeth Ann entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1958 from Blessed Sacrament Parish in Erie and professed her final vows in August, 1966. She graduated from Villa Maria Academy in 1957. She then received a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Villa Maria College and an M.B.A.…
Margaret O’Brien, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Mary Matthew
Home Parish: St. Joseph, Oil City, PA
Sister Margaret O’Brien, SSJ, a native of Oil City, Pennsylvania, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Joseph Parish in Oil City on August 29, 1956, and professed final vows on August 15, 1964.
She graduated from St. Joseph High School in Oil City in 1956 and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Villa Maria College in Erie in 1968.…
Rosemary O’Brien, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Cordelia
Home Parish: St. Joseph, Oil City, PA
Colette Palmer, SSJ
Sister
Home Parish: Sacred Heart, Erie, PA
Sister Colette Palmer, SSJ, was born in Sharon, PA. She first felt the call to religious life, particularly the Sisters of St. Joseph, while in 4th grade. “Sister Michelle Pillar was a postulant at the beginning of the year, and then received her habit in April,” she said.…
Margaret Pellerite, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Anthony Marie
Home Parish: St. Francis, Clearfield, PA
Nancy Prenatt, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sr. Ann Charles
Home Parish: St. Venantius, Rouseville, PA
When she was a senior in high school, Sister Nancy Prenatt felt a call to serve God and God’s people, but she fought the notion of entering the convent. After graduation, she was trained by the Sisters of St.…
Carmel Rojek, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Joseph Cupertino, Ellicott City, MD
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.…
Mary DePaul Sabella, SSJ
Sister
Home parish: St. Philip, Crossingville, PA
Mary DePaul Sabella, SSJ, was born in Crossingville, PA. She attended Crossingville Grade School and received a religious education certificate from Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart in 1952. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on August 15, 1945, from her home parish, St. Philip in Crossingville, PA, and professed her final vows in 1950.…
Angela Marie Servidea, SSJ
Sister
Home Parish: Holy Rosary, Johnsonburg, PA
Sister Angela Marie first felt a call to religious life when she was in first grade at Holy Rosary Elementary School, a call that continued throughout her years there. While she felt drawn to the Sisters, she attended public school because there were no other options available to her.…
Nancy Sonnenfeld, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Frederick Claire
Home Parish: St. John the Baptist, Erie, PA
Marianne Stuckert, SSJ
Sister
Former religious name: Sister Joanne
Entrance: August 30, 1967
Final profession: August 7, 1976
Home parish: Blessed Sacrament, Margate, NJ
Marie Timmons, SSJ
Sister
Former religious name: Sister Louis Martin
Home parish: St. Andrew, Erie, PA
Stephanie Wagner, SSJ
Sister
Home Parish: Immaculate Conception, Johnstown, PA
Entered Sisters of St. Joseph: 1951
Final Profession: 1956
It was during a high school vocational talk when Sr. Stephanie heard that God may be calling her. She discerned this thought for about a year and a half, and then realized she was being called to a life of religious service.…
Dorothy Wilwohl, SSJ
Sister
Former religious name: Sister Edward Marie
Home parish: Holy Rosary, Erie, PA
Barbara Ann Zakutney, SSJ
Sister
Former Religious Name: Sister Mary Zita
Home Parish: Sacred Heart, Houtzdale, PA
Millicent Zimmer, SSJ
Sister
Home Parish: St. John the Baptist, Erie
Sister Mary Millicent Zimmer, SSJ, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. John the Baptist Parish in Erie, PA, on August 30, 1953, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1959
Sister Millicent graduated from the Villa Maria Academy, Erie, PA, in 1952 and continued her education at the Villa Maria College, graduating in 1968 with a bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education. …
