Joanne Turgeon, CSJ
1928-2009
“I will sing to God all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live.”
Psalm 104
Joanne always had a song in her heart and shared it with everyone who became part of her life. Her sisters and friends surrounded her with song as she died peacefully on the afternoon of September 22, 2009 at Bethany Convent, St. Paul.
The fifteenth child in the Turgeon family, she was very much loved all of her life and she loved others in return. She was born in Minneapolis on November 22, 1928 to Edward and Malvina Turgeon, both originally from Canada. Joanne was the third of the Turgeon daughters to join the Sisters of St. Joseph. Dorothy joined the CSJs in 1932 and died in 1999. Her beloved sister, Marguerite, who joined the Sisters in 1933, is her only survivor.
Joanne said of herself, “I was educated by CSJs all my early years so it was understandable that with the help of my two loving parents, my two sisters who were CSJs, and God, who called me…, I would choose to become a Sister of St. Joseph.”
She entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1946, made her first vows in 1949, and her final vows in 1952. After studying at the Diocesan Teachers College she began 26 years of teaching second grade in the elementary schools of Minnesota and Hawaii. Meanwhile she earned a B.A. in education and English from the College of St. Catherine and a certificate from the University of Hawaii as an audio-visual specialist. She also did further study in education at the University of Minnesota.
After 26 years in the classroom Joanne found new ways to serve others. She was enriched by time at the Derham community for personal growth. She then found a new ministry in occupational therapy, receiving OT training at St. Mary’s Junior College before serving as an occupational therapist assistant at Bethany for six years.
Joanne was known from her earliest days in the community as a singer and an artist, enriching life with art and music.
Her talents and experience in calligraphy and graphic design led her to join Project 150, a team of creative and experienced teachers who produced practice materials to help teachers provide alternative ways to teach children to learn independently and constructively. Joanne worked with Sister Michele Murphy to illustrate a series of six books for children in kindergarten and first grade, published by Simon and Schuster. Project 150 brought out some of her best talents. About her, one of the staff said, “where Joanne was, there was always singing.”
She was selected, through a national search, to sing with the National Choir of Sisters. They produced three CDs, Sisters in Song, as part of a non-profit grant project for retired religious. With a rich tenor voice Joanne sang in choirs for most her life, and at the time of her death was an active member and choir member at St. Albert the Great parish in Minneapolis.
When Project 150 came to a conclusion in 2002, Joanne was led to Peace House, established by Sister Rose Tillemans for the homeless and needy in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis. When asked by one of the Peace House guests: “Why do YOU come to Peace House?” Joanne answered, “I need to be aware of the needs and reality of the homeless, provide some help and encouragement when I can, listen to their stories and share mine, and speak to the people who can help improve their situations. And it’s good to bring some joy and fun to their everyday lives through song and dance.”
Joanne sang and danced throughout her life, bringing pleasure to those around her. One of the directors of Peace House, upon hearing of Joanne’s death, summed up her impact on those around her: “It is hard to imagine Peace House without Joanne’s gentle kindness, her readiness to take on so many tasks, her wonderful singing and song leading, her thoughtful liturgies, her caring heart….”
The funeral liturgy celebrating Joanne’s life was held at Presentation of Our Lady Chapel, on Saturday, September 26, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., preceded by visitation from 8:00-10:00 a.m. Burial followed at Resurrection Cemetery.
Joanne is survived by her Sister Marguerite, many other relatives, many friends, and the Sisters of St. Joseph.
