Sr. Joanne Desmond, OSU Celebrates her 70th Jubilee!

Sr. Joanne Desmond, OSU, formerly known as Mother Mary Kevin, graduated as class president from the Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, DE, and attended Immaculata College before entering the Ursuline Order in 1947.  Sister Joanne graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a B.A. in History, and also holds an M.A. in Musicology from the Catholic University of America.

She taught in Ursuline schools in New York and Wilmington from 1949-1958.  Sr. Joanne joined the faculty of the College of New Rochelle in 1958, teaching all music courses and directing the Glee Club and the College Choir.

Returning to Wilmington in 1968, Sister Joanne taught at the Ursuline Academy until 1977, and then served as an administrator.  In addition to organizing the All-Catholic Chorus comprised of students from the entire diocese, she served as cantor at the VA Hospital, soprano with the Northern Delaware Oratorio Society, and as a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, and the Liturgical Commission for the 1976 Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia.  Sr. Joanne also served on the Ursuline Academy’s Board of Trustees and its Alumni Board.

Congratulations to Sister Joanne on her 70 years of service as an Ursuline Sister!