Sister Joan Minella, SSND
May 28, 1935 - May 9, 2025
Joan Marie Minella was the eldest child of Joseph Minella and Irene Scheid, born on May 28, 1935. Her brother, Joseph, was born six years later. In her elementary and high school years, she was taught by the Sisters of Mercy in Rochester, New York.
When reflecting on her childhood, Sister Joan recalled herself as, “a very independent, self-willed little girl who insisted on doing it my way,” in her autobiography from 1995. She continued, “Creativity the was name of the game, and it kept me occupied, in and out of trouble for many years.”
She felt the call to enter religious life during her freshman year of high school when she “drew closer to Our Lady and felt a desire to dedicate her life Our Lady’s Divine Son.” Joan’s exposure to the School Sisters of Notre Dame came through her aunt, Sister M. Romana Scheid. Through her visits to the convent in Buffalo, where her aunt was missioned at the time, she was able to discern her vocation. She received her bonnet at Holy Redeemer Church on August 27, 1953, in Rochester, New York, and entered the novitiate on July 12, 1954, at Villa Assumpta, where she took the name Mary Clemens, meaning merciful. She professed first vows on July 30, 1955.
Her first mission sent her to teach grades 5, 6, and music to the entire school at St. Patrick in Mt. Savage, MD. As music instructor, she also took on the role of director of music for the parish, playing the organ for all church services, funerals, and weddings. Two months into her time at St. Patrick’s, she was reassigned to teach grades 1 and 2. She later recounted this time in her autobiography saying, “The first day in class two little ones fell asleep!” She spent 8 years there and remembered them fondly. Her final profession was on July 30, 1961, at Villa Assumpta.
Joan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from College of Notre Dame of Maryland (now Notre Dame of Maryland University) in 1967 while teaching at Our Lady of Good Counsel and at Our Lady of Hope in Baltimore, MD.
In 1967, she became principal and local leader at St. John the Evangelist in Hydes, Maryland. She served as principal to St. Mark’s in Catonsville, MD, from 1972 to 1974 and St. Boniface in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1974-1977. Over the summers, she earned her first master’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein College, which she completed in 1977. Sister Rita Bueche spoke during Joan’s wake service and remembered her as a powerful influence on her students and colleagues (many of whom stated she was the greatest principal they ever worked with).
In 1977, Sister Ruth Marie May asked Joan to consider a mission to the Generalate, which she agreed to. She served as a receptionist at the Generalate for three years. Upon her return to Baltimore in 1980, she worked on the Archdiocesan Tribunal for almost 8 years as Chief Procurator-Advocate. This ministry inspired her to earn her second master’s degree, a Master of Science in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College in 1988.
Joan served as a Provincial Councilor in Baltimore from 1987 to 1996 and remembered the time very proudly. After her time on the Council, she served as a Pastoral Life Director at St. Ann Catholic Community in Grantsville, MD, St. Patrick in Mount Savage, MD, and Prince of Peace Community Parish in Edgewood, MD from 2007 to 2009.
From 2010 to 2020, she was the archivist at the Institute of Notre Dame. During her reflection, Rita also remembered Joan’s incredible work organizing the archives at the Institute of Notre Dame (IND) saying,
“She organized its history and did research on anything she thought worth pursuing. If you wanted to know something and she didn’t have the answer, she would search until she found it. Students, teachers and alums loved her archive room, and the front parlor where exhibits we so artistically done.”
While working as the archivist at IND, Joan also volunteered her time and talent at Villa Assumpta where Joan worked in the liturgy office with Rita and Sister Jane Cayer. Rita also remembered Joan for her crafting skills saying she often sewed for others and was always crocheting items to give away as prizes and gifts.
Later, as Joan’s health declined and she entered her ministry of prayer and presence in 2020, Rita would often visit Joan. When she would enter Joan’s room, Rita would always be greeted, “Oh, Rita Bueche!” It was a wonderful way to be greeted by a friend.
To close her remarks, Rita reflected on a quote by Erma Bombeck saying, “‘When I stand before God at the end of my life, I hope I will be able to say I used every gift you gave me.’ That was you, Joan. Not an unused minute, not one word wasted… And when you entered heaven, Mother Theresa said to you: Relax, Joan. Everything is already well organized.”
Joan entered eternal life on May 9, 2025, at Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Timonium, MD. A Mass of Resurrection was celebrated by Fr. Joseph Tata on Friday, May 30th at Villa Assumpta in Baltimore Maryland. Burial took place immediately following the Mass at Villa Maria Cemetery in Glen Arm, MD.
By Lauren Ciotti
